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Original Article |
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Effect of Probiotic Bifidobacterium
longum BBS36 in relieving clinical symptoms and
modulating plasma cytokine levels of japanese cedar
pollinosis during the pollen season. A randomized double-blind,
placebocontrolled trial |
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J.Z. Xiao1, S. Kondo1,
N. Yanagisawa2, N. Takahashi1, T.
Odamaki1, N. Iwabuchi1, K.
Iwatsuki1, S. Kokubo1, H. Togashi3,
K. Enomoto4, T. Enomoto5 |
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1Food Research and Development
Laboratory .
2Nutricional Science Laboratory, Morinaga Milk Industry
Co., Ltd., Zama, Japan;
3Togashi Clinic, Ebina, Japan;
4Department of Otolaryngology and Sensory Organ Surgery,
Osaka University Medical School, Osaka, Japan;
5Department of Otolaryngology, Japanese Red Cross
Society Wakayama Medical Center, Wakayama, Japan |
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J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol
2006; Vol. 16(2): 86-93 |
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Abstract |
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Summary.
Probiotic
microorganisms have
been shown to be
effective in the
treatment of
allergic
inflammation and
food allergy, but
their efficacy
remains
controversial. This
study tested the
effect of a yogurt
supplemented
with a probiotic
strain
Bifidobacterium
longum BB536 in the
treatment of
Japanese cedar
pollinosis (JCPsis).
Forty subjects with
a clinical history
of JCPsis were given
yoghurt either
containing BB536
(BB536 yoghurt) or
without BB536
(placebo yoghurt) at
2 100 g per day for
14 weeks, in a
randomized, double-blind,
placebocontrolled
trial. Subjective
symptoms and self-care
measures were
recorded daily and
blood samples were
taken before and
during the
intervention (at
weeks 4, 9, and 14)
to measure the blood
parameter levels
related to JCPsis.
Yoghurt supplemented
with BB536
significantly
alleviated eye
symptoms compared
with placebo yoghurt
(odds ratio 0.31;
95% confidence
interval 0.10–0.97;
p = 0.044). Although
no statistically
significant
differences were
detected, nasal
symptoms such as
itching, rhinorrhea,
and blockage, as
well as throat
symptoms tended to
be relieved with the
BB536 yoghurt. BB536
tended to suppress
the decreasing blood
levels of interferon-gamma
(IFN-γ) and the
increasing blood
eosinophil rates; a
significantly higher
IFN-γ level was
observed for the
difference from
baseline at week 4 .
A decreased trend in
the difference from
baseline levels of
JCP-specific IgE
levels was also
observed at week 4
in the BB536 group
compared with the
placebo group.
In conclusion, these
results suggest that
intake of BB536-supplemented
yoghurt may relieve
JCPsis symptoms,
probably through a
modulating effect on
Th balance.
Key words:
Bifidobacterium
longum, allergy,
Japanese cedar
pollinosis, cytokine,
probiotic. |
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