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Fewer Community-Acquired Colds with Daily Consumption of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 8700:2. A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Ahrén, Irini Lazou LU ; Hillman, Magnus LU ; Nordström, Elisabet Arvidsson ; Larsson, Niklas and Niskanen, Titti Martinsson (2021) In The Journal of nutrition 151(1). p.214-222
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Viral infections of the upper airways are the most common cause for absence from work or school, and there is evidence for probiotic efficacy in reducing the incidence and severity of these infections.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to confirm the previously reported beneficial effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 8700:2 against community-acquired common colds and identify a possible mechanism of action.

METHODS: In a double-blind study, healthy adults (18-70 years of age) with at least 4 colds during the last 12 months before recruitment were randomly allocated to consume either probiotics (n = 448; total daily dose of 109 CFU with the 2 strains equally represented) or placebo (n... (More)

BACKGROUND: Viral infections of the upper airways are the most common cause for absence from work or school, and there is evidence for probiotic efficacy in reducing the incidence and severity of these infections.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to confirm the previously reported beneficial effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 8700:2 against community-acquired common colds and identify a possible mechanism of action.

METHODS: In a double-blind study, healthy adults (18-70 years of age) with at least 4 colds during the last 12 months before recruitment were randomly allocated to consume either probiotics (n = 448; total daily dose of 109 CFU with the 2 strains equally represented) or placebo (n = 450) once daily for 12 weeks. Recruitment took place from October to February during 2013-2016 (over 3 cold seasons). The probiotic impact on the severity of the colds (Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey-21) was the primary endpoint, whereas secondary endpoints included the incidence rate and duration of colds and an analysis of immune markers. Mann-Whitney U test and mixed model were used for the analysis of continuous variables and Fisher´s exact test was used for the analysis of categorical endpoints.

RESULTS: Symptom severity was not reduced after intake of the probiotic, despite the positive trend seen in the first season. However, significantly fewer colds were experienced in the probiotic group (mean of 1.24 colds) as compared to the placebo group (mean of 1.36 colds; P = 0.044) for subjects reporting at least 1 cold, the incidence of recurring colds was 30% lower (20.8% vs. 29.8%, respectively; P = 0.055), and the use of analgesics was 18% lower (26.3% vs. 32%, respectively; P = 0.07). After 12 weeks, the change from baseline for IFN-γ differed between the groups (mean difference of -7.01; 95% CI, -14.9 to 0.93; P = 0.045).

CONCLUSIONS: Intake of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 8700:2 can be protective against multiple colds in adults prone to getting colds.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02013934.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
The Journal of nutrition
volume
151
issue
1
pages
9 pages
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • pmid:33296464
  • scopus:85099326294
ISSN
1541-6100
DOI
10.1093/jn/nxaa353
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.
id
c203ed2c-90ff-47d5-89ca-c46f3eace85a
date added to LUP
2021-01-07 16:12:08
date last changed
2024-04-17 23:17:53
@article{c203ed2c-90ff-47d5-89ca-c46f3eace85a,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Viral infections of the upper airways are the most common cause for absence from work or school, and there is evidence for probiotic efficacy in reducing the incidence and severity of these infections.</p><p>OBJECTIVES: We aimed to confirm the previously reported beneficial effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 8700:2 against community-acquired common colds and identify a possible mechanism of action.</p><p>METHODS: In a double-blind study, healthy adults (18-70 years of age) with at least 4 colds during the last 12 months before recruitment were randomly allocated to consume either probiotics (n = 448; total daily dose of 109 CFU with the 2 strains equally represented) or placebo (n = 450) once daily for 12 weeks. Recruitment took place from October to February during 2013-2016 (over 3 cold seasons). The probiotic impact on the severity of the colds (Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey-21) was the primary endpoint, whereas secondary endpoints included the incidence rate and duration of colds and an analysis of immune markers. Mann-Whitney U test and mixed model were used for the analysis of continuous variables and Fisher´s exact test was used for the analysis of categorical endpoints.</p><p>RESULTS: Symptom severity was not reduced after intake of the probiotic, despite the positive trend seen in the first season. However, significantly fewer colds were experienced in the probiotic group (mean of 1.24 colds) as compared to the placebo group (mean of 1.36 colds; P = 0.044) for subjects reporting at least 1 cold, the incidence of recurring colds was 30% lower (20.8% vs. 29.8%, respectively; P = 0.055), and the use of analgesics was 18% lower (26.3% vs. 32%, respectively; P = 0.07). After 12 weeks, the change from baseline for IFN-γ differed between the groups (mean difference of -7.01; 95% CI, -14.9 to 0.93; P = 0.045).</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Intake of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 8700:2 can be protective against multiple colds in adults prone to getting colds.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02013934.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ahrén, Irini Lazou and Hillman, Magnus and Nordström, Elisabet Arvidsson and Larsson, Niklas and Niskanen, Titti Martinsson}},
  issn         = {{1541-6100}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{214--222}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{The Journal of nutrition}},
  title        = {{Fewer Community-Acquired Colds with Daily Consumption of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 8700:2. A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa353}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/jn/nxaa353}},
  volume       = {{151}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}