Fewer Community-Acquired Colds with Daily Consumption of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 8700:2. A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition Vol. 151; no. 1; pp. 214 - 222
• Main Authors: Ahrén, Irini Lazou, Hillman, Magnus, Nordström, Elisabet Arvidsson, Larsson, Niklas, Niskanen, Titti Martinsson
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2021; Oxford University Press; American Institute of Nutrition
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Analgesics; Basic Medicine; Clinical trials; Cold season; Colds; Common Cold - prevention & control; Community-Acquired Infections - prevention & control; Continuity (mathematics); Double-Blind Method; Female; Health Sciences; Humans; Hälsovetenskap; Immunologi inom det medicinska området; Immunologi inom det medicinska området (Här ingår: Cell- och immunterapi); Immunology in the medical area; Immunology in the Medical Area (including Cell and Immunotherapy); Infections; Lacticaseibacillus paracasei; Lactiplantibacillus plantarum; Lactobacillaceae; Male; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper; Middle Aged; Model testing; Nutrition; Nutrition and Dietetics; Nutritional Immunology; Näringslära; Näringslära och dietkunskap; Probi Defendum; probiotic; Probiotics; Probiotics - therapeutic use; Recruitment; respiratory tract infections; γ-Interferon; Lacticaseibacillus paracasei; respiratory tract infections; probiotic; IDMC; Probi Defendum; AE; WURSS-21; NKT; ITT; iNKT; Lactiplantibacillus plantarum; DSM
• ISSN: 0022-3166; 1541-6100; 1541-6100
• DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxaa353

Viral infections of the upper airways are the most common cause for absence from work or school, and there is evidence for probiotic efficacy in reducing the incidence and severity of these infections. We aimed to confirm the previously reported beneficial effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 8700:2 against community-acquired common colds and identify a possible mechanism of action. In a double-blind study, healthy adults (18–70 years of age) with at least 4 colds during the last 12 months before recruitment were randomly allocated to consume either probiotics (n = 448; total daily dose of 109 CFU with the 2 strains equally represented) or placebo (n = 450) once daily for 12 weeks. Recruitment took place from October to February during 2013–2016 (over 3 cold seasons). The probiotic impact on the severity of the colds (Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey−21) was the primary endpoint, whereas secondary endpoints included the incidence rate and duration of colds and an analysis of immune markers. Mann-Whitney U test and mixed model were used for the analysis of continuous variables and Fisher´s exact test was used for the analysis of categorical endpoints. Symptom severity was not reduced after intake of the probiotic, despite the positive trend seen in the first season. However, significantly fewer colds were experienced in the probiotic group (mean of 1.24 colds) as compared to the placebo group (mean of 1.36 colds; P = 0.044) for subjects reporting at least 1 cold, the incidence of recurring colds was 30% lower (20.8% vs. 29.8%, respectively; P = 0.055), and the use of analgesics was 18% lower (26.3% vs. 32%, respectively; P = 0.07). After 12 weeks, the change from baseline for IFN-γ differed between the groups (mean difference of −7.01; 95% CI, −14.9 to 0.93; P = 0.045). Intake of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 8700:2 can be protective against multiple colds in adults prone to getting colds. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02013934.