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The effects of Yacon ( Smallanthus sonchifolius ) on the immune response in preschool children (647.11)
Author(s) -
Costa Neuza,
Tostes Maria das Gracas,
Viana Mirelle,
Pedrosa Rogerio
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.647.11
Subject(s) - yacón , fructooligosaccharide , immune system , feces , medicine , interleukin 10 , zoology , interleukin 4 , food science , immunology , chemistry , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Background: Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) contains high amount of fructooligosaccharide (FOS), which may improve the immune response. Objective: To evaluate the effect of Yacon on immune response in preschool children. Methods: Children of 2 to 5 years of age from two schools of Alegre, ES, Brazil, were recruited. One school received the Yacon (Y, n=25) and the other was the Control (C, n=25). The group Y received 0.14 g/kg/day of FOS for 18 weeks. Before and after intervention IL4, IL10, IL6 and TNFα (Luminex™) and fecal sIgA (ELISA) were analyzed. The data were compared by pared t‐test (p<0.05). Results: The group Y increased the levels of IL4 from 1.17±0.37 to 1.53±0.38 pg/mL after intervention, but no changes were observed in the cytokines IL10, IL6 and TNFα (pg/mL) by comparing the baseline (3.73±0.53; 1.08±0.24; 12.51±0.95) and the end of the study (4.14±0.45; 2.07±0.52; 13.19±0.84), respectively. The group C showed reduced levels of TNFα from 24.16±2.26 to 13.13±1.03 at the end of the study, but no change was observed in the cytokines IL10, IL4 and IL6. After the intervention, there was an increase in fecal sIgA (μ/mL) in group Y (before: 1125.64 ± 403.99; after: 2406.49 ± 686.40), but not in group C (before: 3379.74 ± 616.09; after: 2357.87 ± 500.45). Conclusion: Yacon improved the immune response by increasing the anti‐inflammatory IL4 and fecal sIgA in preschool children, and it is a promising source of prebiotic.