Immunomodulatory effects of the intake of fermented milk with Lactobacillus casei DN114001 in lactating mothers and their children

Abstract

The healthy action of probiotics is not only due to their nutritional properties and their influence on the gastrointestinal environment, but also to their action on the immune system. The aim of the present study was to determine if 6 weeks of probiotic intake would be able to modulate the immune system in women who had recently delivered and were breast-feeding. The design consisted of a randomised, controlled and double-blind nutritional intervention study with parallel groups with a sample size of 104 women. The main variable is the T helper type 1/T helper type 2 (Th1/Th2) profile determined by measuring interferon-g (Th1) and IL-4 (Th2) values in peripheral blood by flow cytometry. The modifications of cytokines were evaluated in maternal milk by cytometric bead array in a flow cytometer and ELISA at three stages of breast-feeding: colostrum, early milk (10 d) and mature milk (45 d). Additionally, the anthropometry and infectious and allergic episodes in the newborn were followed up throughout the first 6 months of life. After the consumption of milk fermented with Lactobacillus casei during the puerperium, we observed a nonsignificant increase in T and B lymphocytes and a significant increase in natural killer cells. A decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-a in maternal milk and fewer gastrointestinal disturbances were also observed in the breast-fed child of the mothers who consumed L. casei. The intake of milk fermented with L. casei during the lactation period modestly contributes to the modulation of the mother's immunological response after delivery and decreases the incidence of gastrointestinal episodes in the breast-fed child.

Probiotics for the prevention of allergy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…Tables III and IV show a summary of findings for studies in which probiotic supplements were used by mothers during breast-feeding. Of 13 studies [19][20][21][22][23][28][29][30][31][32]40,45,46 assessing the use of probiotics in breast-feeding mothers, only one 21 evaluated their use exclusively during this period (Fig 2, box 2). All remaining studies used probiotics during pregnancy and breastfeeding 19,20,22,23 and/or in pregnant and, later, breast-feeding mothers and their infants (Fig 2, boxes 5 and 7).…”

Primary Prevention of Allergic Diseases: Dreams or Reality?

“…Some studies have taken into account the content of macro and micronutrients in foods of different nations, dietary benefits, both national and geographical, depending on the prevalence of allergies and asthma in different parts of the world. There are three main dietary hypotheses [37][38][39]. The first hypothesis concerns the changes in the introduction of fat in the diet of children.…”

Administration of probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus gasseri K7 during pregnancy and lactation changes mouse mesenteric lymph nodes and mammary gland microbiota

“…An increasing number of studies shows a variety of positive effects of consumption of probiotics during pregnancy and breastfeeding on mother and newborn (Gueimonde et al, 2006;Huurre et al, 2008;Kopp et al, 2008;Ortiz-Andrellucchi et al, 2008;Grönlund et al, 2011;Grzeskowiak et al, 2012;Asemi et al, 2013). However, the mechanisms by which probiotics consumed during pregnancy and lactation affect the milk microbiota remain elusive.…”