Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and IgA Levels in the Milk of Japanese Women: An Open-Label Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Dietary probiotics supplementation in lactating mothers may help prevent allergic disease in infants. However, owing to a lack of consistency in nutritional and safety outcomes associated with probiotics, this topic remains controversial.Methods: In this open-label pilot trial conducted between April 2013 and December 2013, we evaluated the safety of probiotic supplementation with 5 × 109 CFU of Lactobacillus casei LC5, 5 × 109 CFU of Bifidobacterium longum BG7, and 2 × 108 CFU of Bacillus coagulans SANK70258 in lactating women who exhibited allergies for 2 months (1–3 months postpartum); we also evaluated the effects of probiotic supplementation on transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in human milk. Participants self-selected to join the probiotic (n = 41; age [median (interquartile range [IQR]), y] 33 [27–39], body mass index [BMI] [median (IQR), kg/m2] 21.8 [19.5–22.8]) or no supplementation control group (n = 19; age [median (IQR), y] 33 [23–43], BMI [median (IQR), kg/m2) 19.6 [18.4–22.1]). Probiotics (three tablets) received were taken as daily supplements. Milk samples were collected at 1, 2, and 3 months postpartum, and TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and IgA levels were measured.Results: No adverse effects were observed in the probiotic group, according to the self-recorded diary during the study period. Milk IgA decreased with increasing postpartum months in both groups. In contrast, TGF- β1 and β2 were not affected by lactation periods, and showed different patterns over time between the two groups. TGF-β1, TGF-β1, and IgA levels were significantly correlated at baseline (respectively p < 0.05). However, the correlation between TGF-β1 and IgA became non-significant by the end of the intervention (p = 0.063).Conclusion: Altogether, probiotic supplementation was tolerated with respect to no dropout and 91.5% adherence. Although probiotic supplementation might affect human milk TGF-β levels, a positive effect of probiotic supplementation was not entirely supported. Future placebo-controlled studies are needed to further support the efficacy and safety of probiotic supplementation.Clinical Trial Registration: www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/, identifier: UMIN000036059.

Probiotic Supplementation and Systemic Inflammation in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

“…Among T cells, CD4 + CD25 + FOXP3 + T regs contain the main source of TGF-beta that suppresses immune responses in in ammatory sites [7,41]. In line with our ndings, some other studies showed the positive effects of probiotic administration on TFB-β concentration [6,42,43].…”

Protective Effect of Breastfeeding on the Adverse Health Effects Induced by Air Pollution: Current Evidence and Possible Mechanisms

“…Additionally, dietary interventions may also alter breastmilk cytokines or immunoglobins; however, many results were inconclusive [179,192,193,194,195,196,197,198,199,200,201,202,203,204,205,206]. Several studies did not confirm the influence of fish oil or farmed salmon supplementation on breastmilk TGF-β1, TGF-β2, soluble cluster of differentiation (sCD14), and sIgA levels [179,200,201], but one study found that salmon consumption decreased sIgA levels [179].…”

“…Shermanii JS [206], whereas another study showed no effect from L. rhamnosus HN001 or B. lactis HN019 [204]. A decrease in TGF- β2 levels was shown after L. reuteri ATCC 55730 supplementation [203], but symbiotic supplementation resulted in its increase [195], and probiotic milk [196], L. rhamnosus HN001 [197] or L. casei LC5, B. longum BG7, and Bacillus coagulans SANK70258 [198] had no influence. No study, despite one investigating L. rhamnosus HN001 and B. lactis HN019 [204], confirmed the influence on TGF-β1 levels [195,196,197,198,203,207].…”

“…A decrease in TGF- β2 levels was shown after L. reuteri ATCC 55730 supplementation [203], but symbiotic supplementation resulted in its increase [195], and probiotic milk [196], L. rhamnosus HN001 [197] or L. casei LC5, B. longum BG7, and Bacillus coagulans SANK70258 [198] had no influence. No study, despite one investigating L. rhamnosus HN001 and B. lactis HN019 [204], confirmed the influence on TGF-β1 levels [195,196,197,198,203,207]. One study found that probiotic supplementation ( L. rhamnosus GN) resulted in a decrease in sCD14 concentrations [207], but others found no results [203,204,208].…”

“…One study found that probiotic supplementation ( L. rhamnosus GN) resulted in a decrease in sCD14 concentrations [207], but others found no results [203,204,208]. Studies on the influence of L. rhamnosus HN001, GN or L. casei LC5, B. longum BG7, and Bacillus coagulans SANK70258 supplementation on IgA concentrations were also inconclusive [198,204,207], whereas symbiotic supplementation increased IgA levels [195]. The influence of maternal β-carotene or retinol supplementation on sIgA, lactoferrin, lysozyme, and IL-8 was also investigated; however, the authors did not observe any significant associations [192].…”