Probiotic intervention has strain-specific anti-inflammatory effects in healthy adults.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of three potentially anti-inflammatory probiotic bacteria from three different genera on immune variables in healthy adults in a clinical setting based on previous in vitro characterization of cytokine responses.


METHODS
A total of 62 volunteers participated in this randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled parallel group intervention study. The volunteers were randomized to receive a milk-based drink containing either Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb12 (Bb12), or Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii JS (PJS) or a placebo drink for 3 wk. Venous blood and saliva samples were taken at baseline and on d 1, 7 and 21. Fecal samples were collected at baseline and at the end of intervention.


RESULTS
The serum hsCRP expressed as the median AUC(0-21) (minus baseline) was 0.018 mg/L in the placebo group, -0.240 mg/L in the LGG group, 0.090 mg/L in the Bb12 group and -0.085 mg/L in the PJS group (P = 0.014). In vitro production of TNF-alpha from in vitro cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was significantly lower in subjects receiving LGG vs placebo. IL-2 production from PBMC in the Bb12 group was significantly lower compared with the other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, probiotic bacteria have strain-specific anti-inflammatory effects in healthy adults.
Kekkonen
Riina-A
RA
University of Helsinki, Institute of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, PO Box 63, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
Lummela
Netta
N
Karjalainen
Heli
H
Latvala
Sinikka
S
Tynkkynen
Soile
S
Jarvenpaa
Salme
S
Kautiainen
Hannu
H
Julkunen
Ilkka
I
Vapaatalo
Heikki
H
Korpela
Riitta
R
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011424:Propionibacterium / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D010919:Placebos; D002097:C-Reactive Protein