title: Systemic immunity-enhancing effects in healthy subjects following dietary consumption of the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001.
abstract: 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).
  
  
  METHODS
  A three stage, pre-post intervention trial, spanning nine weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Taipei Medical College Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two healthy middle-aged and elderly volunteers (17 males, 35 females; median age 63.5, range 44-80).
  
  
  METHODS
  Stage 1 (run-in diet): 25 g/200 mL reconstituted LFM powder, twice daily for 3 weeks. Stage 2 (probiotic intervention): LFM or LFM-LH, supplemented with 10(9) CFUs/g L. rhamnosus HN001 in each case, for 3 weeks. Stage 3 (wash-out): LFM for 3 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Taipei Medical College Hospital, College of Medicine, National University of Taiwan.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Sheih
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Gill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013624:Taiwan