title: Effect of Probiotic Dietary Intervention on Calcium and Haematological Parameters in Geriatrics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Probiotics are live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. Sufficient calcium intake has been reported to support bone growth and prevent bone loss during the ageing process.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of Lactobacillus helveticus MTCC 5463 probiotic dietary intervention on serum calcium & haematological parameters in geriatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy volunteers with age ranging from 64-74 years were recruited from the nearby residential areas in and around Anand, Gujarat. Study duration was from 2012 to 2015. Of the 112 subjects initially enrolled in the trial, 36 withdrew before the intervention because of not matching with criterias. Of the 76 participants, 5 subjects (4%) under test group and 12 subjects (11%) under placebo left the study. We had 59 subjects who successfully completed a double blind cross over trial. Probiotic fermented milk products (in form of "Lassi") was prepared by supplementing toned milk with honey and fermenting with probiotic Lactobacillus helveticus MTCC 5463 and Streptococcus thermophilus MTCC 5460. The final product had at least 10(8) CFU/ml of viable Lactobacillus helveticus MTCC 5463 at the time of feeding. During feeding period, 200 ml of fermented product containing the test strain to one group and a similar product but without the test strain as placebo were fed regularly at the time of breakfast in morning for 4 weeks. Subjects of each group were given a washout period of 4 weeks before they were crossed over and included to the other group. The study was approved by institutional ethics committee.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The socio-demographic and clinical profiles were similar at baseline. The mean (SD) calcium level improved significantly in test {9.36 (0.45) vs 8.45 (0.61), p<0.001}. No significant effect was observed with respect to haemoglobin & haematological parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The well-documented probiotic Lactobacillus helveticus MTCC 5463 confirmed increase in serum calcium level but no effect on haematological parameters when administered to geriatrics.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Pramukhswami Medical College , Karamsad, India .
authors.forename: Manisha Kalpesh
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gohel
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Dairy Microbiology, SMC College of Dairy Science Anand Agricultural University , Anand, India .
authors.forename: Jashbhai B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Prajapati
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Dairy Microbiology, Anand Agricultural University , Anand, India .
authors.forename: Sreeja V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Mudgal
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Medicine, Pramukhswami Medical College , Karamsad, India .
authors.forename: Himanshu V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Pandya
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, Pramukhswami Medical College , Karamsad, India .
authors.forename: Uday Shankar
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Microbiology & Principal, Smt.L.P. Patel Institute of Med. Lab.Technology Pramukhswami Medical College & Shree Krishna Hospital , Karamsad, India .
authors.forename: Sunil S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.affiliation: Central Research Services, Charutar Arogya Mandal , Karamsad, India .
authors.forename: Ajay G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Phatak
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Pramukhswami Medical College , Karamsad, India .
authors.forename: Rupal M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Patel
keywords: Feeding trials; Healthy volunteers; Lactobacillus helveticus MTCC 5463; Lassi