Re: immunity/probiotics

[Guest guest]

peacefulmeow wrote:

> Since beginning to take probiotics two

> years ago, I have found that my immunity has greatly improved. I also

> take vitamin D3, omega-3, and lysine. Since starting this protocol I

> have not had a single cold (and I am a teacher exposed to hundreds of

> kids).

>

> I was wondering if anyone else takes probiotics, and if so, have you

> found them beneficial?

>

> , land

>

My Wife, as me a non Croner, is taking it for IBS. It is too early to

tell if it is working as her IBS waxs and wans. but so far so good.

Positive Dennis

[Guest guest]

Hi :

It would be helpful if we had objective tests for the effectiveness of immune function which could be used to measure changes in immune system effectiveness in response to various types of 'treatments', such as the probiotics you mention.

Does anyone know of any?

Rodney.

>> Since beginning to take probiotics two> years ago, I have found that my immunity has greatly improved. I also> take vitamin D3, omega-3, and lysine. Since starting this protocol I> have not had a single cold (and I am a teacher exposed to hundreds of> kids).> > I was wondering if anyone else takes probiotics, and if so, have you> found them beneficial?> > , land>

[Guest guest]

A daily probiotic capsule was found to enhance the activity of T cells:

link:

http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=83253

full text:

Probiotics give endurance athletes' immune boost: study

By ls

14/02/2008- Supplements of probiotics may boost the immune health of

long distance runners, protecting them from respiratory illnesses,

suggests a small study published today.

A daily probiotic capsule was found to enhance the activity of T cells,

key players in the immune system, report the researchers after

following 20 elite, endurance athletes during four months of intensive

winter training.

" In combination with the recent report that L rhamonasus

supplementation reduced the duration of gastrointestinal symptoms in

marathon runners in the 2 weeks after the race [int J Sport Nutr Exer

Metab, 2007, Vol. 17, pp. 352-363], our findings point to the potential

benefits of this form of nutritional intervention, " wrote the authors

led by Pyne from the Australian Institute of Sport.

The study is published online ahead of print in the British Journal of

Sports Medicine.

Consumers are increasingly aware of the health benefits associated with

probiotics, including improved intestinal health and immune system

stimulation.

Indeed, probiotics remains a major growth market. The European sector

is set to more than triple in value over the next few years, according

to Frost & Sullivan, to reach $137.9 million (€118.5m) in 2010.

The new study adds to the body of science by reporting that the

'friendly' bacteria may also produce benefits in endurance athletes

undergoing strenuous training, previously reported to be more

susceptible to upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) linked to the

role of strenuous exercise in suppressing the immune system.

Pyne and co-workers recruited the athletes and randomly assigned them

to receive either a daily probiotic supplement containing Lactobacillus

fermentum or placebo. After 28 days of receiving either the probiotic

or placebo, they received nothing for one month (washout period) before

crossing over to the other intervention. By the end of the study all

the athletes had each had the probiotic and placebo formulations.

Athletic performance of the subjects was assessed using a treadmill,

while blood samples were taken at regular intervals to measure the

immune response. The length and severity of respiratory tract

infections were recorded by the subjects themselves.

The researchers report no difference in running performance as a result

of placebo or probiotics supplementation. On the other hand, the number

of days of symptoms of URTI was halved when the athletes took the

probiotic, compared to placebo.

Specifically, symptoms of URTI's lasted 30 days when receiving the

Lactobacillus supplements, compared to 72 days while taking the

placebo. The severity of the symptoms was also less when receiving

probiotics, stated the researchers.

The blood samples showed that blood levels of interferon gamma, an

important component of the body's immune response, were doubled when

the subjects received probiotics, compared to placebo. However, no

significant differences were observed in levels of immunoglobulin A and

immunoglobulin A1 in the saliva, or levels of interleukin (IL)4 and

IL12.

Pyne and co-workers report that the benefits appear to be mediated via

an enhancement of the functioning T-lymphocyte function. They do state,

however, that the specific mechanism remains unclear and that it was

not possible to draw definitive conclusions from the findings of the

current study.

" Further investigations are required to determine whether the

beneficial effects of probiotic administration can translate to both

the general public and specialised populations like elite athletes,

clinical conditions, immuno-compromised subjects, and military and

industrial settings, " wrote Pyne and co-workers.

" The finding of clinical benefits with probiotic supplementation in a

small cohort of physically fit subjects, provides the basis for further

studies examining the beneficial effects of L fermentum VRI-003

administration on immune function in both the general community and

specific populations, " they concluded.

Source: British Journal of Sports Medicine

Published online ahead of print, doi 10.1136/bjsm.2007.044628

" Oral administration of the probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum VR1-003

and mucosal immunity in endurance athletes "

Authors: A.J. , D.B. Pyne, P.U. Saunders, P.A. Fricker

--- In , " Rodney " <perspect1111@...>

wrote:

>

>

> Hi :

>

> It would be helpful if we had objective tests for the effectiveness

of

> immune function which could be used to measure changes in immune

system

> effectiveness in response to various types of 'treatments', such as

the

> probiotics you mention.

>

> Does anyone know of any?

>

> Rodney.

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Looking for last minute shopping deals?

Find them fast with Search.

http://tools.search./newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

[Guest guest]

Supplements of pre- and probiotics can reduce levels of biomarkers

linked to oxidative stress:

link:

http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=82418

full text:

Pre- and probiotic combo linked to better antioxidant status

By ls

09/01/2008- Supplements of pre- and probiotics can reduce levels of

biomarkers linked to oxidative stress, suggests new results from an EU

study.

The synbiotic formulation containing oligofructose prebiotics

(Beneo-Orafti) and a mixture of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium

probiotics was associated with a reduction in oxidation of LDL, linked

to, amongst other things, the development of atherosclerosis or

hardening of the arteries.

" The improvement in biomarkers of anti-oxidative activity seen with the

synbiotic supplementation in this study is promising and warrants

further research, especially since high oxidative stress is known to

cause harm to our bodies, " said Dr. Anne Franck, vice president of

research and development at the Beneo-Group.

Talking to NutraIngredients.com, Dr. Franck confirmed that this is the

first time that a link between prebiotics (and synbiotics) and

oxidative stress has been reported in humans, despite previous being

demonstrated in rodents.

Results of the study - the EU and MicroFunction Project - were

presented recently at the University of Ulster at last year's Nutrition

Society meeting and the abstract is published in Proceedings of the

Nutrition Society. The full results - not seen by NutraIngredients.com

- are set to be published in a peer-reviewed journal in the coming

months, said Dr. Franck.

The randomised, double-blind (cross-over), placebo-controlled trial

included fifty-three healthy Estonian adults. The subjects were

randomly assigned to receive either the daily supplements of

oligofructose (Orafti P95, 6.6 g/day) and probiotics (Lactobacillus

fermentum ME-3, Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 and Bifidobacterium

longum 46) or placebo (maltodextrin) for three weeks.

The researchers, from the University of Reading (UK), the University of

Tartu (Estonia) and Orafti, report that the total antioxidant activity

of the subjects receiving the synbiotic supplements was higher than the

corresponding placebo subjects: 42.4 versus 41.9 per cent,

respectively.

Furthermore, levels of oxidation of LDL were reduced in the synbiotic

group, compared to placebo, reported the researchers (12.6 compared to

14.6 micromoles, respectively.

Faecal measures of bifidobacteria were also higher after synbiotic

supplementation, compared to placebo, and the researchers report that

these increases were more pronounced when baseline levels were low

before starting supplementation.

Significantly, higher faecal butyrate concentrations were reported with

the synbiotic (10.0 vs. 8.1 mm for the placebo).

" The improvement in antioxidative-stress biomarkers and the increase in

both bifidobacteria and butyrate on ingestion of the test synbiotic in

this prophylactic study may warrant further research in diseases in

which oxidative stress plays a role (such as CVD) or in populations in

which the gut microbiota composition has been disturbed, " concluded the

researchers.

Dr. Franck confirmed to this website that the company was continuing to

support studies in this area, with a focus on obesity, metabolic

syndrome and healthy ageing.

The EU and MicroFunction Project was established through a network of

extensive collaborations between eight partners from seven different

countries, and supported by the European Commission.

Source: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society

2007, Volume 66, Page 101A

" Effects of a synbiotic on biomarkers of oxidative stress and faecal

microbiota in healthy adults: results of a cross-over double-blind

placebo-controlled trial "

Authors: D.M.A. Saulnier, P. Hutt, M. Mikelsaar, D. Bosscher, G.

Gibson, S. Kolida

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Never miss a thing. Make your home page.

http://www./r/hs