Effect of yoghurt containing <it>Bifidobacterium lactis </it>Bb12<sup>® </sup>on faecal excretion of secretory immunoglobulin A and human beta-defensin 2 in healthy adult volunteers
2011
Kabeerdoss Jayakanthan | Shobana Devi R | Regina Mary R | Prabhavathi D | Vidya R | Mechenro John | Mahendri NV | Pugazhendhi Srinivasan | Ramakrishna Balakrishnan S
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Probiotics are used to provide health benefits. The present study tested the effect of a probiotic yoghurt on faecal output of beta-defensin and immunoglobulin A in a group of young healthy women eating a defined diet.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>26 women aged 18-21 (median 19) years residing in a hostel were given 200 ml normal yoghurt every day for a week, followed by probiotic yoghurt containing <it>Bifidobacterium lactis </it>Bb12<sup>® </sup>(10<sup>9 </sup>in 200 ml) for three weeks, followed again by normal yoghurt for four weeks. Stool samples were collected at 0, 4 and 8 weeks and assayed for immunoglobulin A and human beta-defensin-2 by ELISA. All participants tolerated both normal and probiotic yoghurt well. Human beta-defensin-2 levels in faeces were not altered during the course of the study. On the other hand, compared to the basal sample, faecal IgA increased during probiotic feeding (P = 0.0184) and returned to normal after cessation of probiotic yoghurt intake.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>Bifidobacterium lactis </it>Bb12<sup>® </sup>increased secretory IgA output in faeces. This property may explain the ability of probiotics to prevent gastrointestinal and lower respiratory tract infections.</p>
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