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Probiotic strain Bacillus subtilis CU1 stimulates immune system of elderly during common infectious disease period: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study

  • 2015-12
  • Immunity & Ageing 12(1)
    • Marie Lefevre
    • S. Racedo
    • Gabrielle Ripert
    • B. Housez
    • M. Cazaubiel
    • C. Maudet
    • Peter Jüsten
    • P. Marteau
    • M. Urdaci

Abstract

Background: Bacillus probiotics health benefits have been until now quite poorly studied in the elderly population. This study aimed to assess the effects of Bacillus subtilis CU1 consumption on immune stimulation and resistance to common infectious disease (CID) episodes in healthy free-living seniors.

Results: One hundred subjects aged 60-74 were included in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arms study. Subjects consumed either the placebo or the probiotic (2.10(9) B. subtilis CU1 spores daily) by short periodical courses of 10 days intermittently, alternating 18-day course of break. This scheme was repeated 4 times during the study. Symptoms of gastrointestinal and upper/lower respiratory tract infections were recorded daily by the subjects throughout the study (4 months). Blood, saliva and stool samples were collected in a predefined subset of the first forty-four subjects enrolled in the study. B. subtilis CU1 supplementation did not statistically significantly decrease the mean number of days of reported CID symptoms over the 4-month of study (probiotic group: 5.1 (7.0) d, placebo group: 6.6 (7.3) d, P = 0.2015). However, in the subset of forty-four randomized subjects providing biological samples, we showed that consumption of B. subtilis CU1 significantly increased fecal and salivary secretory IgA concentrations compared to the placebo. A post-hoc analysis on this subset showed a decreased frequency of respiratory infections in the probiotc group compared to the placebo group.

Conclusion: Taken together, our study provides evidence that B. subtilis CU1 supplementation during the winter period may be a safe effective way to stimulate immune responses in elderly subjects.

Keywords: Clinical trial; Common infectious disease; Elderly; Immunostimulation; Probiotics.

Research Insights

SupplementHealth OutcomeEffect TypeEffect Size
Bacillus SubtilisIncreased Salivary IgA LevelsBeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus SubtilisIncreased Secretory IgA LevelBeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus SubtilisReduced Respiratory Infections FrequencyBeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus subtilis AB22Increased Secretory Immunoglobulin ABeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus subtilis AB22Reduced Frequency of Respiratory InfectionsBeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus subtilis DE11Reduced Frequency of Respiratory InfectionsBeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus subtilis DE111Increased Secretory Immunoglobulin ABeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus subtilis DE111Reduced Frequency of Respiratory InfectionsBeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus subtilis HU58Increased Salivary Secretory Immunoglobulin A LevelsBeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus subtilis HU58No Significant Reduction in CID SymptomsNeutral
Small
Bacillus subtilis HU58Reduced Frequency of Respiratory InfectionsBeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus subtilis MB40Increased Secretory Immunoglobulin ABeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus subtilis MB40Reduced Frequency of Respiratory InfectionsBeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus subtilis SNZ-1972Increased Secretory Immunoglobulin ABeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus subtilis SNZ-1972Reduced Respiratory Infections FrequencyBeneficial
Moderate
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