Dose Response Study of a Fermented Yogurt on the Immune System and Gut Health

There is an increasing list of food containing probiotics on the market. Several studies have emphasized the health benefits of single probiotics, particularly on the immune system. However, it is unclear how a combination of two different probiotics complemented with green tea extract can beneficially modify markers of the immune.

The aim of this study is to determine the dose-response effect of a yogurt containing a combination of bifidobacterium lactis (BB-12) and Lactobacillus Acidophilus LA-5 and green tea extract on immune system in healthy subjects. More specifically, this randomized, parallel placebo controlled study will investigate the impact of increasing doses (109 and 1010) of these probiotics on phagocytosis activity, oxidative metabolism and on the antipneumococcics antibody specific serotype response S. pneumoniae vaccination. Finally, this study will also examine the effect of increasing dose of these probiotics on intestinal microflora and blood lipids.

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 18 to 55 years
• Healthy individuals, non-smokers
• BMI between 18 and 35 kg/m2
• Stable weight (+/- 5kg) for 3 months before randomisation
• Agree to receive a vaccine Pneumovax 23®

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or lactating woman
• Previous history of cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Kidney or liver disease
• Gastrointestinal disorders or diseases
• Endocrine disorders or diseases
• Allergy
• Subjects taking hypolipidemic drugs, antidepressant, medication for high blood pressure, for inflammation or auto-immune diseases.
• Subject who have receive antipneumococcics vaccine in the year before randomisation.