title: Consumption of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 impacts upper respiratory tract infection and the function of NK and T cells in healthy adults.
abstract: Probiotics can modulate immunity and reduce upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) in humans; however few studies have examined both outcomes in the same trial. The goal of the current study was to investigate the effect of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12, on natural killer (NK) and T-cell function in conjunction with self-reported cold/flu outcomes in healthy adults.
  
  
  
  In a randomized, partially blinded, four-period crossover study, healthy adults (n = 30) were recruited, and received four treatments for 4 weeks in a random order: (i) yogurt smoothies alone (YS); smoothies with BB-12 added (ii) before (PRE) or (iii) after (POST) yogurt fermentation, or (iv) BB-12 capsule (CAP). NK- and T-cell function was assessed at baseline and after each treatment. Incidence and severity of cold/flu infection was quantified using self-reported URTI questionnaires. Participants on YS, PRE, or CAP treatments had elevated IL-2 secretion and NK-cell cytotoxicity, concurrently with fewer days with URTI. However, the POST treatment did not change immune outcomes or the severity of URTI.
  
  
  
  The timing of BB-12 addition to yogurt smoothies in relation to the fermentation process influenced the impact of BB-12 on immune function and cold/flu severity in young healthy adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Huicui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Yujin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Zhaoyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ba
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Jiayu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Junli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Emily J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Furumoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Penny M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kris-Etherton
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Connie J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000069982:Bifidobacterium animalis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015014:Yogurt; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Delivery matrix; IL-2; Infection; NK cell; Probiotics; T cell