This randomized controlled trial did not show the effects of OLL1073R-1 yogurt intake on influenza prevention and NK cell activity enhancement. However, a significant increase in IFN-γ production was demonstrated.

Background We conducted a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of consumption of yogurt fermented with Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus OLL1073R-1 in women healthcare workers. In a previous study we used these data to investigate hypothesized preventive effects against flu, however any effects on improving mental quality of life were not analyzed at that time. In the present study, we focus on that aspect. Methods The participants (961 women; mainly nurses, aged 20–71 years) were randomly allocated to either the yogurt group (n = 479) or the control group (n = 482). Participants in the yogurt group drank 112 mL of OLL1073R-1 yogurt for 16 weeks, while those in the control group did not consume any yogurt. All participants were prohibited from consuming other yogurt or fermented dairy products during the study period. The participants answered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Short Form-8 Health Survey (SF-8), and Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) questionnaires at baseline and after 16 weeks. Results The PSQI score showed significant improvement after the intake of yogurt (p < 0.01). SF-8 results showed significant intervention effects in the General Health and Vitality scores (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively). In other subscales of SF-8, we did not observe significant effects of the yogurt. In the GSRS, daily intake of yogurt exerted a preventive effect on constipation (p = 0.03). Conclusions Consumption of yogurt fermented with Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus OLL1073R-1 enhances subjective psychological quality of life by improving quality of sleep and gastrointestinal condition among women healthcare workers.

Chronic knee joint pain is common in the elderly and associated with poor quality of life. This study, an open-label clinical trial, aimed to examine how the intake on a daily basis of maslinic acid-containing product (30 mg maslinic acid) on 29 elderly residents (mean 70.7 ± 10.1 years) of Nakajima Island, Ehime, Japan. Study participants consumed 10 g jelly containing maslinic acid daily for 16 weeks and at 0 (baseline), 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks, assessed for health-related quality of life (Short Form-8) and knee pain score (Japanese Knee Osteoarthritis Measure). After 16 weeks, the physical quality of life, more specifically, the level of Bodily Pain and Physical Component Summary, but not mental quality of life, was significantly improved by maslinic acid intake. Furthermore, maslinic acid intake significantly decreased the Japanese Knee Osteoarthritis Measure at week 8 and tended to decrease Visual Analogue Scale score at weeks 4 and 16. These results suggest that consumption of maslinic acid has a protective effect against chronic knee pain in elderly residents in a community where knee pain causes high quality of life burden.

Background: Ubiquinol is widely used as an anti-aging supplement. In this study, we evaluated the effects of long-term ubiquinol intake on improving or maintaining the quality of life (QOL) of community residents.Methods: 124 adult (aged 22-86) residents (36 male, 88 female) participated in this trial. Each consumed 100-120 mg of ubiquinol per day for 6 months (n=22) or 12 months (n=102). We measured serum ubiquinol levels and QOL scores by SF-36 at baseline and after ubiquinol intake. Results: In female participants, the SF-36 scores of role physical (RP), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), mental health (MH), and mental component summary (MCS) increased significantly. On the other hand, significant score changes were not shown in male participants. After stratifying baseline serum ubiquinol levels by tertiles, we found a significant improvement of mental QOL scores in the low and middle ubiquinol level groups of female participants, but not in the highest tertile. Conclusions: This trial indicates that ubiquinol supplementation has effects on female participants’ psychological QOL, especially for those whose baseline serum ubiquinol levels are in the low to middle range.Key Words: ubiquinol, coenzyme Q10, energy production, quality of life, clinical trial

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