Effect of probiotic supplementation in the first 6 months of life on specific antibody responses to infant Hepatitis B vaccination

Probiotics have been shown to enhance specific immune responses to vaccines. We aim to assess the effect of probiotic supplementation on specific IgG antibody responses to Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccination in infants. Compared to controls, probiotic supplementation improved HepB surface antibody responses in subjects receiving monovalent doses of HepB vaccine at 0, 1 month and a DTPa-HepB combination vaccine at 6 months [placebo (n =28): 187.97 (180.70-195.24), probiotic (n = 29): 345.70 (339.41-351.99) mIU/ml] (p = 0.069), but not those who received 3 monovalent doses [placebo (n = 68): 302.34 (296.31-308.37), probiotic (n =77): 302.06 (296.31-307.81)mIU/ml] (p = 0.996). Probiotics may enhance specific antibody responses in infants receiving certain Hepatitis B vaccine schedules. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.