Lactobacillus plantarum CECT7315 and CECT7316 stimulate immunoglobulin production after influenza vaccination in elderly.
OBJECTIVE
The effectiveness of influenza vaccination in preventing illness is lower in the elderly; this is why the ability of Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7315/7316 to stimulate the response to influenza vaccination in elderly was evaluated.


METHODS
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial including 60 institutionalized volunteers aged 65-85 years was performed. All the volunteers were vaccinated with a trivalent influenza vaccine (A/Wisconsin/67/2005 NYMC X-161B (H3N2), A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1) and B/Malaysia/2506/2004) for the Spanish vaccine campaign 2006/2007. The consumption of the probiotic began between three and four months after the vaccination. Volunteers were randomly assigned to one of three following groups: group A (receiving 5*10(9) cfu/day of L. plantarum CECT 7315/7316 in 20 g powdered skim milk), group B (receiving 5*10(8) cfu/day of L. plantarum CECT 7315/7316 in 20 g powdered skim milk) and group C or placebo (20 g powered skim milk). The participants consumed the probiotic during 3 months.


RESULTS
The consumption of L. plantarum CECT 7315/7316 during 3 months after influenza vaccination increased the levels of influenza-specific IgA and IgG antibodies. Moreover, a trend towards an increase in influenza-specific IgM antibodies was also observed.


CONCLUSIONS
L. plantarum CECT7315/7316 has an immunostimulating effect and could be used to improve the response to influenza vaccination in elderly.
AB-Biotics, S. A, Cerdañola del Vallés, Spain.
M
M
Bosch
M
M
Méndez
M
M
Pérez
A
A
Farran
M C
MC
Fuentes
J
J
Cuñé
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003611:Dairy Products; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013030:Spain
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007252:Influenza Vaccines