Supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus or Bifidobacterium lactis probiotics in pregnancy increases cord blood interferon-gamma and breast milk transforming growth factor-beta and immunoglobin A detection.
BACKGROUND
This study explored the effects of maternal probiotic supplementation on immune markers in cord blood (CB) and breast milk.


METHODS
CB plasma and breast milk samples were collected from a cohort of women who had received daily supplements of either 6 x 10(9) CFU/day Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 (n=34), 9 x 10(9) CFU/day Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 (n=35) or a placebo (n=36) beginning 2-5 weeks before delivery and continuing for 6 months in lactating women. CB plasma and breast milk (collected at 3-7 days, 3 months and 6 months postpartum) were assayed for cytokines (IL-13, IFN-gamma, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-10, TGF-beta1) and sCD14. Breast milk samples were also assayed for total IgA.


RESULTS
Neonates of mothers who received a probiotic had higher CB IFN-gamma levels (P=0.026), and a higher proportion had detectable blood IFN-gamma levels, compared with the placebo group (P=0.034), although levels were undetectable in many infants. While this pattern was evident for both probiotics, when examined separately only the L. rhamnosus HN001 group showed statistically significant higher IFN-gamma levels (P=0.030) compared with the placebo group. TGF-beta1 levels were higher in early breast milk (week 1) from the probiotic groups (P=0.028). This was evident for the B. lactis HN019 group (P=0.041) with a parallel trend in the L. rhamnosus HN001 group (P=0.075). Similar patterns were seen for breast milk IgA, which was more readily detected in breast milk from both the B. lactis HN019 (P=0.008) and the L. rhamnosus HN001 group (P=0.011). Neonatal plasma sCD14 levels were lower in the B. lactis HN019 group compared with the placebo group (P=0.041).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that supplementation with probiotics in pregnancy has the potential to influence fetal immune parameters as well as immunomodulatory factors in breast milk.
Prescott
S L
SL
School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. sprescott@meddent.uwa.edu.au
Wickens
K
K
Westcott
L
L
Jung
W
W
Currie
H
H
Black
P N
PN
Stanley
T V
TV
Mitchell
E A
EA
Fitzharris
P
P
Siebers
R
R
Wu
L
L
Crane
J
J
D001644:Bifidobacterium; D001942:Breast Feeding; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000276:immunology; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000276:immunology; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis
D016207:Cytokines; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma