Abstract
BackgroundProbiotics are used to provide health benefits. The present study tested the effect of a probiotic yoghurt on faecal output of beta-defensin and immunoglobulin A in a group of young healthy women eating a defined diet.Findings26 women aged 18-21 (median 19) years residing in a hostel were given 200 ml normal yoghurt every day for a week, followed by probiotic yoghurt containing Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12® (109 in 200 ml) for three weeks, followed again by normal yoghurt for four weeks. Stool samples were collected at 0, 4 and 8 weeks and assayed for immunoglobulin A and human beta-defensin-2 by ELISA. All participants tolerated both normal and probiotic yoghurt well. Human beta-defensin-2 levels in faeces were not altered during the course of the study. On the other hand, compared to the basal sample, faecal IgA increased during probiotic feeding (P = 0.0184) and returned to normal after cessation of probiotic yoghurt intake.ConclusionsBifidobacterium lactis Bb12® increased secretory IgA output in faeces. This property may explain the ability of probiotics to prevent gastrointestinal and lower respiratory tract infections.
Highlights
Probiotic foods are widely used to promote health
The present study evaluated the effect of daily ingestion of yoghurt containing Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12® on faecal excretion of IgA and b-defensin 2 in healthy adult southern Indian women volunteers
The levels decreased after probiotic yoghurt was stopped, they did not return to normal and tended to be higher than baseline levels
Summary
Probiotic foods are widely used to promote health. They are sometimes used to prevent or treat specific gastrointestinal illnesses. Recent studies have shown that ingestion of foods containing probiotic Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium strains prevent or reduce morbidity from enteric infections and lower respiratory tract infections [1,2]. Bifidobacterium lactis strain Bb12® is a probiotic microbe that is widely consumed in the form of probiotic yoghurt Probiotic yoghurt containing this microbe is reported to have beneficial effects on metabolism including lowered serum LDL-cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes,[3] increased HDL cholesterol in adult women [4] and improved glucose. The present study evaluated the effect of daily ingestion of yoghurt containing Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12® on faecal excretion of IgA and b-defensin 2 in healthy adult southern Indian women volunteers. The present study tested the effect of a probiotic yoghurt on faecal output of beta-defensin and immunoglobulin A in a group of young healthy women eating a defined diet
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