Effects of Lactobacillus casei Shirota ingestion on common cold infection and herpes virus antibodies in endurance athletes: a placebo-controlled, randomized trial
Michael Gleeson
Nicolette Bishop
Lauren Struszczak
2134/21688
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/Effects_of_Lactobacillus_casei_Shirota_ingestion_on_common_cold_infection_and_herpes_virus_antibodies_in_endurance_athletes_a_placebo-controlled_randomized_trial/9628934
Aims To assess evidence of health and immune benefit by
consumption of a Lactobacillus casei Shirota probiotic in
highly physically active people.
Methods Single-centre, population-based, randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Daily ingestion of
probiotic (PRO) or placebo (PLA) for 20 weeks for n = 243
(126 PRO, 117 PLA) university athletes and games players.
Subjects completed validated questionnaires on upper respiratory
tract infection symptoms (URS) on a daily basis
and on physical activity status at weekly intervals during
the intervention period. Blood samples were collected
before and after 20 weeks of the intervention for determination
of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus
(CMV) serostatus and antibody levels.
Results URS episode incidence was unexpectedly low
(mean 0.6 per individual) and was not significantly different
on PRO compared with PLA. URS episode duration
and severity were also not influenced by PRO. A significant
time × group interaction effect was observed for plasma
CMV antibody titres in CMV seropositive participants
(p < 0.01) with antibody titre falling in the PRO group
but remaining unchanged in the PLA group over time. A
similar effect was found for plasma EBV antibody titres in
EBV seropositive participants (p < 0.01) with antibody titre
falling in the PRO group but increasing in the PLA group
over time. Conclusions In summary, regular ingestion of PRO did not
reduce URS episode incidence which might be attributable
to the low URS incidence in this study. Regular ingestion
of PRO reduced plasma CMV and EBV antibody titres, an
effect that can be interpreted as a benefit to overall immune
status.
2016-06-16 15:49:23
Exercise training
Herpesvirus
Probiotic
Common cold
Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere classified