Immunomodulatory effects of a probiotics drink containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota in healthy older volunteers.
Dong et al. (2013) European Journal of Nutrition 52(8):1853-63
doi: 10.1007/s00394-012-0487-1
PURPOSE: There is growing evidence that probiotics confer health benefits to the host by modulating immune function, especially in older people, where immunosenescence is a feature even of healthy ageing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) on immune function in a healthy non-immunocompromised older population.
METHODS: Thirty healthy old volunteers were recruited into a randomized placebo-controlled, single-blind crossover study. The volunteers were supplemented with the probiotic drink containing 1.3 × 10(10) CFU (LcS) or skimmed milk per day for 4 weeks, followed by 4 weeks of washout and were crossed over to the other treatment. Peripheral blood and saliva samples were collected at baseline and end of each treatment.
RESULTS: Probiotic consumption was associated with a significant increase in natural killer (NK) cell activity relative to baseline and a significant decrease in the mean fluorescence intensity of CD25 expression in the resting T cells compared with placebo. Additionally, there was a trend towards an increased ratio of IL-10 to IL-12 relative to baseline after (LcS) intake.
CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of a probiotic drink containing (LcS) improved NK cell activity and tended to produce a more anti-inflammatory cytokine profile in an older population.
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