[Clinical effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus strain L-55-contained yogurt on symptoms of Japanese cedar pollen allergy].
BACKGROUND
It has been reported that oral administration of Lactobacillus acidophilus strain L-55 (L-55) suppressed nasal symptom and antigen-specific IgE induced by antigen challenge in mice. We investigated clinical effects of L-55-contained yogurt on symptoms and IgE production in the patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis.


METHODS
The study was performed as a randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial. L-55-contained yogurt (L-55 yogurt) or placebo yogurt was started to administer to each subject from 4 weeks prior to the onset of Japanese cedar pollen release for total 13 weeks.


RESULTS
The mean value of symptom score and symptom medication score were lower in L-55 yogurt group compared with placebo yogurt group during 5th week to 9th week from the first week of Japanese cedar pollination. Especially, in medicated subjects, total symptom score and throat symptom score were significantly lower in L-55 yogurt group compared with placebo yogurt group at 5th and 4th week from the first week of Japanese cedar pollination, respectively. Moreover, in medicated subjects, change ratio of serum total IgE was significantly lower in L-55 yogurt group compared with placebo yogurt group at 1st week from the first week of Japanese cedar pollination.


CONCLUSIONS
Intake of L-55 during Japanese cedar pollinating season may be effective in alleviating the allergic symptoms related to Japanese cedar pollinosis. From these finding, it was suggested that L-55 is a possible candidate as a complementary medicine for Japanese cedar pollinosis.
The Department of Allergy, National Hospital Organization, Minami-Okayama Medical Center, Japan. kimurag@s-okayama.hosp.go.jp
Goro
G
Kimura
Hirofumi
H
Akagi
Chiharu
C
Okada
Atsushi
A
Hirano
Yoshimi
Y
Amano
Etsuko
E
Ohmura
Yoshito
Y
Nakashige
Yosuke
Y
Sunada
Yusuke
Y
Fujii
Syoji
S
Nakamura
Ryo
R
Soda
Kiyoshi
K
Takahashi
D000328:Adult; D032485:Cryptomeria; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus; D008297:Male; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000628:therapy*; D015014:Yogurt / Q000382:microbiology