Systemic immunity-enhancing effects in healthy subjects following dietary consumption of the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001.
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.
Sheih
Y H
YH
Taipei Medical College Hospital, College of Medicine, National University of Taiwan.
Chiang
B L
BL
Wang
L H
LH
Liao
C K
CK
Gill
H S
HS
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