title: Effects of a fermented milk drink containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota on the human NK-cell activity.
abstract: Nine healthy middle-aged and 10 elderly volunteers drank fermented milk containing 4 x 10(10) live cells of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota daily for 3 wk, and their natural killer (NK) activity and other immunological functions were examined. In the experiments with middle-aged volunteers, NK activity significantly increased (P<0.01) 3 wk after the start of intake, elevated NK cell activity remained for the next 3 wk, and this effect was particularly prominent in the low-NK-activity individuals. In the experiments with elderly volunteers, NK activity significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the control group 3 wk after the start of intake; however, the intake of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota maintained the NK activity. These results suggest that daily intake of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota provides a positive effect on NK-cell activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunlogy, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okumura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D043302:Cultured Milk Products; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior