Journal
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
Volume 56, Issue 12, Pages 1155-1161Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601465
Keywords
interferon; interleukins; proliferation index; allergic rhinopathy
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Objectives: To examine the immunological and clinical influence of 4 months' feeding with either yoghurt or partially skimmed milk or nothing, on 20 volunteers. Subjects: Thirteen subjects had a demonstrated allergic rhinopathy and seven were healthy subjects and participated as controls. Research design: Either a group of seven or a group of six rhinopathic patients were fed either 450 g yoghurt or 450 g partially skimmed milk, respectively, for 4 months between March and October 1999. All subjects maintained their usual diet throughout the study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated before and after the experimental period and cultured for periods of 40 and 64 h. Proliferation index assay and release of IFNgamma and IL-4 without and with PHA stimulation were assessed. Allergic rhinopathy was evaluated before and after the 4 months period by performing the nasal functionality tests (Active Anterior Rhinomanometry, Acoustic Rhinometry), the prick test, the nasal specific provocation test (NPT), the dosage of specific IgE blood levels, the evaluation of the symptomatological score and the nasal mucociliary transport test. Results: No significant change of the proliferation index was noted among the three groups. Cultured PBMC of the group fed with yoghurt released more IFNgamma and less IL-4. Cytokine plasma levels were at and remained at basal levels. Prick test, specific serum IgEs and NPT remained immodified. Muco-ciliary transport time (MCTt) and symptomatological score showed a definitive improvement after yoghurt feeding. Conclusion: Yoghurt feeding appears to improve or prevent allergic recurrences in rhinopatic patients. Sponsorship: This study was funded, in part, by a grant from Parmalat, Parma, Italy.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available