Immune Enhancement from Lactobacilli

Systemic Immunity-Enhancing Effects in Healthy Subjects Following Dietary Consumption of the Lactic Acid Bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001

Ying-H. Sheih, MD, B.-L. Chiang, MD, L.-H. Wang, MD, Chuh-K. Liao, MD, and Harsharnjit S. Gill, PhD

Taipei Medical College Hospital (Y.-H.S., C.-K.L.), College of Medicine, National University of Taiwan (B.-L.C., L.-H.W.), Taipei, TAIWAN, Milk and Health Research Centre, Massey University (H.S.G.), Palmerston North, NEW ZEALAND [H.S.Gill@massey.ac.nz]

Objective: To determine the effects of the probiotic lactic acid bacterium, Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001, on natural cellular immunity when delivered orally in normal low-fat milk (LFM) or lactose-hydrolyzed low-fat milk (LFM-LH).

Design: A three stage, pre-post intervention trial, spanning nine weeks.

Setting: Taipei Medical College Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Subjects: Fifty-two healthy middle-aged and elderly volunteers (17 males, 35 females; median age 63.5, range 44-80).

Interventions: Stage 1 (run-in diet): 25g/200 mL reconstituted LFM powder, twice daily for 3 weeks. Stage 2 (probiotic intervention): LFM or LFM-LH, supplemented with 109 CFUs/g L. rhamnosus HN001 in each case, for 3 weeks. Stage 3 (washout): LFM for 3 weeks.

Measures of Outcome: In vitro phagocytic capacity of peripheral blood polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes; in vitro tumoricidal activity of natural killer (NK) leukocytes.

Results: Immunological responses were unaffected by the run-in diet of LFM alone. In contrast, the relative proportion of PMN cells showing phagocytic activity increased by 19% and 15%, respectively, following consumption of HN001 in either LFM or LFM-LH; the relative level of NK cell tumor killing activity increased by 71% and 147%. In most cases these levels declined following cessation, but remained above baseline.

Conclusions: Dietary consumption of L. rhamnosus HN001, in a base of low-fat milk or lactose-hydrolyzed low-fat milk, appears to enhance systemic cellular immune responses and may be useful as a dietary supplement to boost natural immunity.

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