Improvement of nutritional status and incidence of infection in hospitalised, enterally fed elderly by feeding of fermented milk containing probioticLactobacillus johnsoniiLa1 (NCC533)

Abstract

Probiotics have potential to improve host immunity; however, there is less evidence showing their efficacy against infections and nutritional status in the elderly. We conducted a double-blinded feeding trial in the elderly to elucidate the effect of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 (LC1 w ) on infections and nutritional status. Twenty-four completely enterally fed elderly in-patients aged over 70 years were randomly assigned into two groups. All subjects were administered 3768 kJ (900 kcal)/d of total enteral nutrition (EN) through tube feeding for 12 weeks. Subjects in the LC1 group were administered 373 kJ (89 kcal)/d of LC1 fermented milk after feeding of 3395 kJ (811 kcal)/d of EN for 12 weeks. In the control group, 373 kJ/d of the same EN was replaced from the fermented milk. In the LC1 group, the percentage of days with infections during the run-in observation period was 15·4 (SD 17·3) %, which significantly decreased to 5·7 (SD 8·1) % during the intervention period (P¼ 0·018), and the reduction was larger than that of the control group (P¼ 0·047). Blood Hb increased (P, 0·05), and there was a tendency towards an increase in serum albumin and a decrease in TNF-a (a pro-inflammatory cytokine) in the LC1 group. There was a trend towards an increase in blood phagocytic activity (a natural immunity marker) in the subjects whose initial level was low in the LC1 group. There were no changes in those parameters in the control group. Administration of fermented milk containing the probiotic L. johnsonii La1 may contribute to suppressing infections by improving nutritional and immunological status in the elderly.

Identification of Genes Associated with the Long-Gut-Persistence Phenotype of the Probiotic Lactobacillus johnsonii Strain NCC533 Using a Combination of Genomics and Transcriptome Analysis

“…Lactobacillus johnsonii strain (13,15,33) which affect a physiologically relevant in vivo trait, gut persistence. It is commonly assumed that a successful probiotic bacterium must achieve and maintain a sizable intestinal cell titer after oral application to have an effect (11,44).…”

Urinary <i>D</i>-Lactate Excretion in Infants Receiving <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> with Formula

“…prove the human intestinal bacteria [9] and the nutritional and immunological status of hospitalized, enterally fed elderly [10] . La1 bacteria usually produce the D -isomer of lactate for which humans lack specific catabolizing enzymes [11] .…”

Effect of Synbiotic Supplementation on Serum Systemic Inflammatory Marker and Serum Albumin in Patients Admitted to ICU

“…In the present study, symbiotic significantly decreased serum albumin. Some researchers showed that probiotics enhance nutritional status and systemic immune responses [20,21]. Fukushima showed that administration of enteral nutrition with fermented milk containing of probiotic L. John sonii La1 for 12 weeks, increased in serum albumin and decreased in TNF-α compared to placebo in elders [20].…”

“…Some researchers showed that probiotics enhance nutritional status and systemic immune responses [20,21]. Fukushima showed that administration of enteral nutrition with fermented milk containing of probiotic L. John sonii La1 for 12 weeks, increased in serum albumin and decreased in TNF-α compared to placebo in elders [20]. In another study, Kaburagi et al indicated that probiotic Lactobacillus John sonii La1 enhanced serum albumin concentrations and body weight in aged mice with protein-energy malnutrition [21].…”