Changes in Leukocyte Populations Among Children Receiving a Follow‐on Cow's Milk‐Based Formula Containing Beta‐Glucan

Abstract

Backgroundβ‐Glucan can enhance immune system responses to foreign agents, but mechanisms of action remain unknown.ObjectiveWe examined changes in immune cell populations and activation markers produced by the addition of β‐Glucan to a children's follow‐on formula.MethodsThis was a double blinded, randomized, controlled, parallel‐designed, prospective study. Data is reported for participants who completed the study. Participants (1–4 years of age) received either a marketed, follow‐on formula (n=8), formula supplemented with 42 mg of β‐Glucan per serving (n=10), or formula with 6 × 109 colony forming units of LGG per serving (n=9), twice a day for a 3 week period. Flow cytometry was used to immunophenotype peripheral blood leukocytes. Thirty serum cytokines were measured via multiplex analysis. Changes from baseline were analyzed by Kruksal‐Wallis. As this was a pilot study, differences with p‐values < 0.10 were considered of interest.ResultsParticipants who received β‐Glucan had decreased production of stem cell factor and decreased neutrophil proportions. They also had an increase in the ratio of immature‐to‐mature B cells. Finally, they had reduced CD4 T cell activation and an increase in specific subsets of CD8 T cells.Conclusionβ‐Glucan promotes a complex pattern of activation and inhibition of distinct T and B cell subsets. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effects of β‐Glucan on immune effects in healthy, young children.