[Intake of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 and its effect on gut flora].
OBJECTIVE
To study the gut flora in infants who received fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei and Streptococcus termophilus and its effect on secretory immunoglobulin levels.


METHODS
An experimental, randomized, prospective, parallel group study was carried out. Thirty-five infants were included (18 in the treatment group and 17 in the control group) with a mean age of 2 years (SD: 0.6 years; range: 1-3 years). The experimental group received both fermented milk (0.5 l/day) containing L. casei and S. termophilus for 6 weeks and standard cow's milk for the following 6 weeks. The control group received standard cow's milk (0.5 l/day) for 12 weeks. Secretory IgA levels in saliva were evaluated in the experimental group at the start of the study (baseline levels) and 6 weeks later. In both groups, stools were collected to study gut flora at 0, 6 and 12 week.


RESULTS
Secretory IgA levels significantly increased (p =0.0063) from a mean baseline value of 2.5 mg/dl to a mean of 3.4 mg/dl at 6 weeks. Gram-negative aerobic flora were decreased in the experimental group after 6 weeks compared with the control group (p =0.0203). The number of infants with Lactobacillus spp in their gut flora was greater in the experimental group than in the control group at week 6 and this difference was statistically significant (p =0.028) at week 12. Conclusion The present study provides evidence of L. casei survival in the gastrointestinal tract and of its effect of increasing secretory IgA.
Tormo Carnicer
R
R
Unidad de Gastroenterología Infantil y Nutrición, Hospital Materno-Infantil Vall d'Hebron de Barcelona, España. tormo42@yahoo.es
Infante Piña
D
D
Roselló Mayans
E
E
Bartolomé Comas
R
R
D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D043302:Cultured Milk Products / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology; D048249:Streptococcus thermophilus / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory