title: Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1, and Bifidobacterium longum MM-2 Ingestion Induces a Less Inflammatory Cytokine Profile and a Potentially Beneficial Shift in Gut Microbiota in Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study determined whether older adults who consumed a probiotic mixture would have a greater proportion of circulating CD4+ lymphocytes, altered cytokine production, and a shift in intestinal microbiota toward a healthier microbial community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (70 ± 1 years [mean ± SEM]; n = 32) consumed a probiotic (Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1, and Bifidobacterium longum MM2) or a placebo twice daily for 3 weeks with a 5-week washout period between intervention periods. Blood and stools were collected before and after each intervention. The percentage of circulating CD4+ lymphocytes and ex vivo mitogen-stimulated cell cytokine production were measured. In stools, specific bacterial targets were quantified via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and community composition was determined via pyrosequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the first period of the crossover the percentage of CD4+ cells decreased with the placebo (48% ± 3% to 31% ± 3%, p < 0.01) but did not change with the probiotic (44% ± 3% to 42% ± 3%) and log-transformed concentrations of interleukin-10 increased with the probiotic (1.7 ± 0.2 to 3.4 ± 0.2, p < 0.0001) but not the placebo (1.7 ± 0.2 to 2.1 ± 0.2). With the probiotic versus the placebo a higher percentage of participants had an increase in fecal bifidobacteria (48% versus 30%, p < 0.05) and lactic acid bacteria (55% versus 43%, p < 0.05) and a decrease in Escherichia coli (52% versus 27%, p < 0.05). Several bacterial groups matching Faeacalibactierium prausnitzii were more prevalent in stool samples with the probiotic versus placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The probiotic maintained CD4+ lymphocytes and produced a less inflammatory cytokine profile possibly due to the changes in the microbial communities, which more closely resembled those reported in healthy younger populations.
authors.affiliation: a Food Science and Human Nutrition Department , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida.
authors.forename: Samuel J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Spaiser
authors.affiliation: a Food Science and Human Nutrition Department , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida.
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Culpepper
authors.affiliation: a Food Science and Human Nutrition Department , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida.
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nieves
authors.affiliation: b Department of Epidemiology , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ukhanova
authors.affiliation: b Department of Epidemiology , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.affiliation: a Food Science and Human Nutrition Department , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida.
authors.forename: Susan S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Percival
authors.affiliation: c Department of Statistics , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida.|d MCC Statistical Consulting , Gainesville , Florida.
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Christman
authors.affiliation: a Food Science and Human Nutrition Department , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida.
authors.forename: Bobbi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Langkamp-Henken
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000145:classification; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000502:physiology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000502:physiology*; D010919:Placebos; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D010919:Placebos
keywords: Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1; Bifidobacterium longum MM-2; Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13; cytokines; gastrointestinal function; gut microbiota; immune function; inflammation; older adults; probiotics