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Effect of probiotics on vaccine antibody responses in infancy – a randomized placebo‐controlled double‐blind trial
Author(s) -
Kukkonen Kaarina,
Nieminen Tea,
Poussa Tuija,
Savilahti Erkki,
Kuitunen Mikael
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
pediatric allergy and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.269
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1399-3038
pISSN - 0905-6157
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2006.00420.x
Subject(s) - medicine , tetanus , diphtheria , placebo , randomized controlled trial , allergy , immunology , haemophilus influenzae , conjugate vaccine , antibody , placebo controlled study , antibody titer , vaccination , gastroenterology , titer , pediatrics , immunization , double blind , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , alternative medicine , pathology , biology
Probiotics are immunomodulatory and may thus affect vaccine antibody responses. With the accumulating evidence of their health‐promoting effects, probiotics are increasingly administered in allergy‐prone infants. Therefore, we studied the effect of probiotics on antibody responses to diphtheria, tetanus and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines in 6‐month‐old infants participating in a randomized placebo‐controlled double‐blind allergy‐prevention trial. Mothers of unborn children at increased risk for atopy used a combination of four probiotic strains, or a placebo, for 4 wk before delivery. During 6 months from birth, their infants received the same probiotics and galacto‐oligosaccharides, or a placebo. The infants were immunized with a DTwP (diphtheria, tetanus and whole cell pertussis) at ages 3, 4, and 5 months, and with a Hib polysaccharide conjugate at 4 months. Serum diphtheria, tetanus, and Hib IgG antibodies were measured at 6 months. In the probiotic group, protective Hib antibody concentrations (≥1 μ g/ml) occurred more frequently, 16 of 32 (50%) vs. six of 29 (21%) (p = 0.020), and the geometric mean (inter‐quartile range) Hib IgG concentration tended to be higher 0.75 (0.15–2.71) μ g/ml than in the placebo group 0.40 (0.15–0.92) μ g/ml (p = 0.064). In these respective groups, diphtheria, 0.38 (0.14–0.78) vs. 0.47 (0.19–1.40) IU/ml (p = 0.449), and tetanus, 1.01(0.47–1.49) vs. 0.81 (0.56–1.39) IU/ml (p = 0.310), IgG titers were comparable. In conclusion, in allergy‐prone infants probiotics seem not to impair antibody responses to diphtheria, tetanus, or Hib, but may improve response to Hib immunization.