Daily ingestion of a nutritional probiotic supplement enhances innate immune function in healthy adults

In this pilot study (n = 10), we investigated whether daily ingestion of a delayed release 4-species probiotic supplement over an 8-week period would enhance innate immune function in a nonelderly adult population. The parameters of innate immunity assessed were natural killer cell activity, phagocytic activity, and salivary secretory immunoglobulin A. A I-arm intervention trial was performed in which 10 volunteers served as their own controls. Immune parameters were measured at baseline and during treatment at 3, 5, and 8 weeks. A statistically significant increase in the percentage of phagocytic monocytes (P = .0005) and neutrophils (P = .0122) occurred over the 8-week treatment period. No statistically significant increases of natural killer cell activity or salivary immunoglobulin A levels were observed. In conclusion, nutritional supplementation with probiotics has the potential to improve innate immune function in healthy adults. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.