Page 23 - FoodFocusThailand No.145_April 2018

SCIENCE & NUTRITION

Drinking Fermented Milk containing Probiotic

ImproveS Immune Response Following Influenza Vaccination

Influenza is one of the world most common infectious disease of upper respiratory system. Influenza is caused
by infection of viruses including influenza A such as H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes and influenza B. The influenza A
is pandemic (causing worldwide incidences) such as the 2009 Influenza.

The most effective strategy for prevention of influenza is influenza H3N2 and Flu-B viruses. Then, the participants further consumed the milk
vaccination especially for children and elderly. World Health for four weeks and stopped. During the trial, all participants had been
Organization (WHO) recommends to provide influenza vaccines which asked to refrain from other probiotic-containing food. The immune response
can stimulate immune protection against three types of viruses including had been measured at the beginning prior to milk intake, two weeks after
H1N1, H3N2 and Flu-B. However, influenza vaccines are not completely milk intake (prior to vaccination), four weeks after vaccination, and two
effective. After vaccination, some people do not have elevated immune weeks after termination of milk intake. To determine immune response,
materials (antibodies). Therefore, it is crucial to identify a strategy to blood samples of all participants were sent to viral laboratories at Faculty
improve immune response following influenza vaccination. of Tropical Medicine for immune detection by Hemagglutination Inhibition
Probiotics are living organism with health benefits. They (HI or HAI) assay. The laboratory researcher did not know which participants
can be found in food such as yogurt, drinking fermented milk received probiotic. Then, the results were sent back to Institute of Nutrition
and cheese. The health benefits of probiotics include adjusting and another researcher analyzed the data without knowing group
balance of gut microbiota, increasing bowel movement, and assignments of each participant. Therefore, the results were reliable with
improving immune defense. Recently, researchers from no biases.
Mahidol University composed of Institute of Nutrition, Faculty This research study demonstrated that drinking fermented milk
of Tropical Medicine and Golden Jubilee Medical Center containing probiotics increased rate of new immune formation
has collaborated to perform a clinical research. The study (Seroconversion rate) against H1N1 and H3N2 in participants with low
aimed to investigate the effect of drinking fermented milk influenza immune (HI titer less than 40) prior to vaccination. Furthermore,
containing Lactobacillus paracasei 431 on immune the probiotic milk increased immune response at least two-fold rise against
response following influenza vaccination. The report of this H3N2 virus in volunteers with pre-existing immune. For Flu-B, the immune
study has been published in Journal of Functional Food, response after influenza vaccination was already high in the placebo
an international peer-reviewed journals focusing on health groups; therefore, the effect of probiotic was not apparent. Previous studies
food. in other countries regarding the effect of probiotic on influenza vaccination
The study is a clinical trial which has been had been inconclusive. Some found the significant effect, while some did
ethically approved by the Mahidol University Central not. This research study in Thailand had shed the light on new knowledge
Institutional Review Board (MU-CIRB) and that probiotic will be effective in boosting immune response only if the
registered in clinical trial.gov, an international person had low immune defense prior to vaccination. If the person had
database of clinicaltrial. The study recruited sixty pre-existing immune or good response to vaccination, probiotic will not
healthy volunteers aged 18-45 years old. The have much effect.
participants had been randomly divided into two Besides Lactobacillus paracasei, studies published in international
groups with thirty person each. A group received journals reported that other probiotic microorganisms such as Lactobacillus
drinking fermented milk containing probiotics, while acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis Bi-07 also
the other group received a placebo milk (flavored had significant effect in reducing fever, nasal congestion and days of flu-
milk with no probiotics). The study used well like symptoms in healthy children and adults.
research design; that is, blinded randomized In conclusion, combination between drinking fermented milk containing
controlled trial in which the participants and the data probiotic and influenza vaccination may enhance immune response against
analyzers were concealed from the type of milk they influenza especially in people who have never been infected with influenza
received. The results from blinded trial is generally or immunized with influenza vaccine. Nevertheless, probiotic-containing
well-accepted and reliable since biases have been products are not recommended for critically ill patients, immunocompromised
minimized. In this study, all participants consumed patients (e.g. symptomatic HIV, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus) and babies.
one bottle (about 150 cc.) of the assigned milk per
day for two weeks followed by a single shot of
influenza vaccine boosting immune against H1N1,

เอกสารอ้างอิง/References
Trachootham D, Chupeeracha C, Tuntipopipat S, Pathomyok L, Boonnak K, Praengam K, Promkam C, Santivarangkna C. Drinking fermented milk
containing Lactobacillus paracasei 431 (IMULUS™) improves immune response against H1N1 and cross-reactive H3N2 viruses after influenza
vaccination: A pilot randomized triple-blinded placebo controlled trial. J Functional Foods. 2017; 33: 1-10
Leyer GJ, Li S, Mubasher ME, Reifer C, Ouwehand AC. Probiotic effects on cold and influenza-like symptom incidence and duration in children.
Pediatrics. 2009;124(2):e172-9.
King S, Glanville J, Sanders ME, Fitzgerald A, Varley D. Effectiveness of probiotics on the duration of illness in healthy children and adults who
develop common acute respiratory infectious conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Nutr. 2014;112(1):41-54.

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