Hayfever Hope: Probiotic Drink Can Modify Immune System's Response To Grass Poll

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Hayfever Hope: Probiotic Drink Can Modify Immune System's Response To

Grass Pollen

 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080602214117.htm

 

ScienceDaily (Jun. 4, 2008) — With the peak grass pollen season

approaching, scientists can reveal that a daily dose of probiotic can

change the immune status of people with hay fever.

 

In the first human study of its kind, scientists at the Institute of

Food Research found that probiotic bacteria in a daily drink can

modify the immune system's response to grass pollen, a common cause of

seasonal hay fever.

 

But they are not recommending that sufferers rush to the supermarket

shelves just yet. The changes found may not have an immediate effect

on symptoms.

 

" This was a pilot study based on small numbers of patients, but we

were fascinated to discover a response " , says research leader

Professor Claudio Nicoletti. " The probiotic significantly reduced the

production of molecules associated with allergy. "

 

Hayfever is an allergic reaction to pollen or fungal spores, most

commonly grass pollen. The immune system mistakes the spores for

harmful invaders and produces excessive amounts of the antibody IgE to

bind to them and fight them off.

 

IgE stimulates the release of histamine to flush out the spores, and

this irritates the airways making them swell and producing the

symptoms of hayfever.

 

In this study, volunteers with a history of seasonal hay fever drank a

daily milk drink with or without live bacteria over 5 months. The

study was double-blinded and placebo controlled, so neither the

volunteers nor the scientists knew who had been assigned the probiotic

drinks. The probiotic drinks contained Lactobacillus casei, a

bacterial species that has been widely studied for its health

promoting properties.

 

Blood samples were taken before the grass pollen season, then again

when it was at its peak (June), and 4 weeks after the end of season.

There were no significant differences in levels of IgE in the blood

between the two groups at the start of the study, but IgE levels were

lower in the probiotic group both at the peak season and afterwards.

 

At the same times, levels of the antibody IgG were higher, a type of

antibody that in contrast to IgE is thought to play a protective role

against allergic reactions.

 

" The probiotic strain we tested changed the way the body's immune

cells respond to grass pollen, restoring a more balanced immune

response " , says Dr Kamal Ivory, a senior member of the group.

 

The changes observed may also reduce the severity of symptoms, but

clinical symptoms were not measured in this study. That is one aim of

further research.

 

" These are really interesting results " , says Dr Linda Thomas, head of

science at Yakult UK, who provided the drinks and some of the funding.

" We are delighted that independent scientists found evidence of this

biological activity. The project was part of ongoing research into the

benefits of our probiotic strain. The Institute of Food Research is

well positioned to do this kind of fundamental research, as it is

unique in having the right combination of expertise in microbiology,

immunology, flow cytometry and human nutrition research. "

 

Professor Nicoletti's group intend to perform a similar study in the

near future to see if the immunological changes translate into a real

reduction in the clinical symptoms of hayfever. They would also like

to examine the mechanisms involved.

 

Journal reference:

 

1. Ivory et al. Oral delivery of Lactobacillus casei Shirota

modifies allergen-induced immune responses in allergic rhinitis.

Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2008; 0 (0): 080528223344047 DOI:

10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.03025.x

 

Adapted from materials provided by Norwich BioScience Institutes, via

EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.