Probiotics or have long been the focus of considerable research to demonstrate their potential health benefits including: preventing C. difficile infection, antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and infant eczema.
The probiotic drink Actimel (Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001) can help to reduce the amount of time elderly people suffer from common winter infections, according to research recently published in the British Journal of Nutrition1.
Common infectious diseases (CID) of the airways and the gastrointestinal tract are still a considerable cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly. The elderly experience more frequent and severe community-acquired respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. 77% of deaths due to gastrointestinal infections and 90% of deaths due to respiratory infections are reported to occur in patients over 65 years of age. The increased susceptibility of the elderly has been ascribed to age-associated alterations of the immune system affecting both innate and adaptive immune responses.
The present study examined the beneficial effect of a dairy product containing the probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 (Danone Actimel) on the resistance of free-living elderly to CID. The study was multicentric, double-blind and controlled, involving 1072 volunteers (median age 76 years) randomised for consumption of either 200g/day of Actimel (n=537) or control (non-fermented) dairy product (n=535) for 3 months, followed by an additional one-month follow-up.
The results showed that, when considering all CID, the fermented product significantly reduced the average duration per episode of CID (6.5 vs. 8 days in control group; p=0.008) and the cumulative duration of CID (7 vs. 8 days in control group; p=0.009). Reduction in both episode and cumulative durations was also significant for all upper respiratory tract infections (p<0.001) and for rhinopharyngitis (p<0.001).
Actimel contains over 10 billion live bacteria Lactobacillus casei per bottle which remain active throughout its shelf life. Studies collectively demonstrate that L. casei Imunitass survives in the gastrointestinal tract and exerts a beneficial effect on the intestinal barrier including (1) the intestinal flora, (2) the intestinal mucosa and (3) the intestinal immune system or gut-associated lymphoid tissue when consumed daily as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
This new clinical trial is consistent previous research involving 360 people over 60 years of age which showed a reduction in the severity (duration) of winter infection by 20%.
Conclusion
Doctor Guillemard believes tackling the problem of common infectious diseases amongst the elderly could reduce a significant amount of health concerns. These results could also potentially relieve some of the burden that treatment of common infectious diseases currently imposes on healthcare services.
“These improvements in duration of infection may seem quite small, but when extrapolated to population level, the improvements take on a new significance,” explained the study’s lead researcher, Doctor Guillemard. He continued:
“Achieving optimal success in preventing and controlling CIDs among the elderly requires not only the development of more effective vaccines and antimicrobial drugs, but also new ways of opposing the age-associated compromisation of the immune system. The latter include improvement of living conditions, promotion of physical activity and better nutrition including functional foods. Some of these contain probiotics that may improve the resistance of old people to infection.”
Reference: 1- Guillemard E et al. Consumption of fermented dairy product containing the probiotic Lactobacillus casei DN 114001 reduces the duration of respiratory infections in the elderly in a randomised controlled trial. J.Br J Nutr 2009 Sept 14: 1-11
For more information visit www.studies.danone.com. References available from Danone. Telephone: (01) 4510299. Email: askdanone.ireland@danone.com
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