Immune-modulatory effect of probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis NCC2818 in individuals suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis to grass pollen: an exploratory, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 67; no. 2; pp. 161 - 167
• Main Authors: SINGH, A, HACINI-RACHINEL, F, GOSONIU, M. L, BOURDEAU, T, HOLVOET, S, DOUCET-LADEVEZE, R, BEAUMONT, M, MERCENIER, A, NUTTEN, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing Group 01.02.2013
• Subjects: Adult; Allergic reaction; Allergic rhinitis; Allergies; Allergy; Basophils - metabolism; Bifidobacterium; Bifidobacterium lactis; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; Care and treatment; CD63 antigen; Clinical trials; Cytokines; Double-Blind Method; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grasses; Humans; Immunologic Factors - therapeutic use; Immunomodulation; Immunotherapy; Interleukin 13; Interleukin-13 - blood; Interleukin-5 - blood; Interleukins - blood; Leukocytes (basophilic); Leukocytes - metabolism; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Non tumoral diseases; Nose; Oral administration; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Parameters; Placebos; Poaceae - immunology; Pollen; Pollen - immunology; Probiotics; Probiotics - therapeutic use; Rhinitis; Rhinitis, Allergic; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial - blood; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial - complications; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial - drug therapy; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial - immunology; Seasons; Signs and symptoms; Skin tests; Species Specificity; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tetraspanin 30; Th2 Cells - metabolism; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; France; Allergy; Nose disease; Rhinitis; Eubacteria; Bifidobacteriaceae; Randomization; seasonal allergic rhinitis; Nose; Actinobacteria; Bacteria; ENT disease; Clinical trial; total nasal symptom score; Bifidobacteriales; Human; Probiotic; Immunopathology; Cytokine; Metabolic diseases; IL-5; Interleukin 13; IL-13; Symptomatology; Actinobacteridae; Bifidobacterium animalis
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2012.197

Probiotics are defined as 'living micro-organisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit to the host'. Different probiotic strains have been investigated for beneficial effects on allergic disorders. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of orally administering the probiotic Nestlé culture collection (NCC)2818 Bifidobacterium lactis strain on immune parameters and nasal symptom scores in subjects suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). The study was a double-blinded, parallel, randomized placebo-controlled trial conducted during the peak of the pollen season. Adult subjects with clinical history of SAR and positive skin prick test to grass pollen were recruited. The subjects received B. lactis NCC2818 or placebo for 8 weeks and completed symptom questionnaires every week. Whole blood was collected at baseline (V1), 4 weeks (V2) and 8 weeks (V3) to measure immune parameters. Concentrations of Th-2 cytokines, secreted by stimulated blood lymphocytes, were significantly lower in the probiotic group compared with the placebo group at V3 (interleukin (IL)-5, P=0.016; IL-13, P=0.005). Total nasal symptom scores were significantly lower in the second month of the study (weeks 5-8) in the probiotic group compared with the placebo group (P=0.03). Also, percentages of activated CD63 expressing basophils were significantly lower in the probiotic group at V2 (P=0.02). Oral administration of the probiotic NCC2818 mitigates immune parameters and allergic symptoms during seasonal exposure. These promising results warrant that B. lactis NCC2818 be investigated further in large-scale trials for management of respiratory allergy.