title: The Effect of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis HN019 on Cellular Immune Function in Healthy Elderly Subjects: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
abstract: Elderly people have increased susceptibility to infections and cancer that are associated with decline in cellular immune function. The objective of this work was to determine the efficacy ofBifidobacterium(B.)animalisssp.lactisHN019 (HN019) supplementation on cellular immune activity in healthy elderly subjects. We conducted a systematic review of Medline and Embase for controlled trials that reported polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell phagocytic capacity or natural killer (NK) cell tumoricidal activity followingB. lactisHN019 consumption in the elderly. A random effects meta-analysis was performed with standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval between probiotic and control groups for each outcome. A total of four clinical trials were included in this analysis.B. lactisHN019 supplementation was highly efficacious in increasing PMN phagocytic capacity with an SMD of 0.74 (95% confidence interval: 0.38 to 1.11,p< 0.001) and moderately efficacious in increasing NK cell tumoricidal activity with an SMD of 0.43 (95% confidence interval: 0.08 to 0.78,p= 0.02). The main limitations of this research were the small number of included studies, short-term follow-up, and assessment of a single probiotic strain. In conclusion, daily consumption ofB. lactisHN019 enhances NK cell and PMN function in healthy elderly adults.
authors.affiliation: Miller Scientific Consulting, Inc., 1854 Hendersonville Road, #231, Asheville, NC 28803, USA. larry@millerscientific.com.
authors.forename: Larry E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: DuPont Nutrition and Health, Sokeritehtaantie 20, Kantvik 02460, Finland. Liisa.Lehtoranta@dupont.com.
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lehtoranta
authors.affiliation: DuPont Nutrition and Health, Sokeritehtaantie 20, Kantvik 02460, Finland. Markus.Lehtinen@dupont.com.
authors.forename: Markus J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lehtinen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000069982:Bifidobacterium animalis; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D065228:Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
keywords: Bifidobacterium; aging; elderly; immunity; probiotic