Abstract
We investigated the effect of a formula containing two different prebiotics (bifidogenic growth stimulator and galacto-oligosaccharide) and fermented milk products on intestinal microbiota and antibody responses to an influenza vaccine in enterally fed elderly in-patients. Patients were administered either formula containing prebiotics and fermented milk products (group F: n = 12, 79.9 ± 9.5 years old) or standard formula (group C: n = 12, 80.7 ± 10.1 years old) via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy during a 14-week intervention period. Subjects were immunized with an influenza vaccine (A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B) at week 4 of the intervention. Blood biochemical indices, intestinal bacteria populations and antibody titers were analyzed. Bifidobacterium counts increased significantly in group F compared with group C. The enhanced antibody titers against A/H1N1 were maintained in group F for a longer period compared with group C. The titers against A/H3N2 were unchanged between both groups, and those against B were significantly lower in group F than in group C, although few subjects had seroprotective titers against A/H3N2 and B. These results suggest that administration of the formula containing prebiotics and fermented milk products may maintain antibody titers for longer periods through the improvement of intestinal microbiota.
Highlights
The elderly are generally known to be at greater risk of infectious diseases, as their immune responses are less vigorous than in younger adults
Our results revealed that enteral administration of the study formula containing prebiotics and fermented milk products may improve intestinal microbiota and may contribute to maintenance of antibody titers against influenza viral A/H1N1 antigen for longer periods in elderly patients, without any change in blood nutritional indices
These results suggest that the differences in selenium, manganese, vitamin A, and vitamin C levels in formula given to subjects in groups C and F most likely did not affect antibody titers against influenza vaccine in our study
Summary
The elderly are generally known to be at greater risk of infectious diseases, as their immune responses are less vigorous than in younger adults. Influenza vaccination protects against influenza virus infection, reducing the risks of death and hospitalization associated with serious complications, such as pneumonia [2,3], the age-related decline of immune functions reduces the responses of elderly patients to the influenza vaccine [4]. Taking these studies into consideration, it is very important to enhance the vaccine responses in the elderly. Influenza-vaccinated healthy elderly subjects who consumed milk fermented with Lactobacillus had enhanced antibody titers against the virus [9]
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