Abstract
BackgroundPrevious reports showed that oral administration of Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain NTM048 increases IgA levels and CD4+ T cell population in feces and mice, respectively, as revealed by flow cytometric analysis of splenocytes. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chocolate supplemented with L. mesenteroides strain NTM048 (> 1.00 × 109 CFU/day, NTM048) on the immune parameters of healthy subjects, using a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study design.MethodsParticipants (mean age: 46.3 years) ingested 28 g of test food daily, at a time of their own choice, for 4 weeks. The immunological parameters of all participants were evaluated two times (pre- and post- ingestion). At the end of the study, various immunological parameters of the participants were measured and scoring of immunological vigor (SIV) was performed using a comprehensive algorithm.ResultsIngestion of NTM048-supplemented chocolate significantly improved SIV in the NTM048 group (18.6 ± 1.6) compared to that in the placebo group (17.8 ± 2.0) after 4 weeks (p = 0.049). Several immunological parameters (CD8+T cells, CD8+CD28+ T cells, and memory T cells) were significantly elevated in the NTM048 group as compared to the placebo group (all p < 0.05). In addition, T cell proliferation index at post-ingestion significantly increased compared with that at pre-ingestion in the NTM048 (p = 0.017) and placebo groups (p = 0.037), although no differences were observed between the two groups.ConclusionOur results suggest that ingestion of chocolate supplemented with NTM048 is effective against the age-related decline in T cell-related immune functions.Trial registrationUMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000021989. Registered 19 April 2016, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000025321
Highlights
Previous reports showed that oral administration of Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain NTM048 increases IgA levels and CD4+ T cell population in feces and mice, respectively, as revealed by flow cytometric analysis of splenocytes
We reported that Lactobacillus brevis NTT001 can survive transit through the gastrointestinal tract when ingested via chocolate; chocolate can be useful tool to protect probiotics [15]
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of NTM048-supplemented chocolate on the immune parameters of healthy subjects
Summary
Previous reports showed that oral administration of Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain NTM048 increases IgA levels and CD4+ T cell population in feces and mice, respectively, as revealed by flow cytometric analysis of splenocytes. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chocolate supplemented with L. mesenteroides strain NTM048 (> 1.00 × 109 CFU/day, NTM048) on the immune parameters of healthy subjects, using a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study design. Depression of immune activity mainly occurs in T cells starting as early as 20 years of age, showing a decline of 50% of the peak level in some individuals at the age of 40 years. Slowing the rate of the age-related decline of immune activity is expected to be significant for prolonging a healthy life-span. We tested a novel strategy to recover the depressed immune activity in humans. Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov, who was awarded the 1908 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in recognition of his work on immunity, advocated a theory that aging is caused by toxic bacteria in the intestine and that lactic acid can increase life expectancy. A lot of researchers have been interested in the functionality of lactic acid, and many studies have demonstrated the physiological effects of lactic acid [1, 2]
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