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A probiotic fermented dairy product improves immune response to influenza vaccination in the elderly

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2021

J. Aubin ,
M. Remigy ,
L. Verseil ,
R. Bourdet-Sicard ,
S. Vaudaine ,
S. van der Werf  and
S. I. Samson
J. Aubin
Affiliation:
Pasteur Institute, Paris, France
M. Remigy
Affiliation:
Maison de Retraite Sainte Famille, Metz, France
L. Verseil
Affiliation:
Danone Research, Palaiseau, France
R. Bourdet-Sicard
Affiliation:
Danone Research, Palaiseau, France
S. Vaudaine
Affiliation:
Danone Research, Palaiseau, France
S. van der Werf
Affiliation:
Pasteur Institute, Paris, France
S. I. Samson
Affiliation:
Danone Research, Palaiseau, France
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Abstract

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Abstract
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Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 67 , Issue OCE5: Joint meeting of the Société Française de Nutrition and The Nutrition Society, 6–7 December 2007 , May 2008 , E205
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2008

The elderly respond poorly to influenza vaccination compared with younger adults( Footnote 1 ). The aim of the study was to investigate whether daily consumption of a probiotic dairy product (Actimel®; Groupe Danone, Paris, France) could improve vaccination responses in the elderly.

In a multicentre placebo-controlled randomized double-blind study eighty-six elderly subjects (mean age 83 years) received Actimel® or acidified milk for 7 weeks. Consumption of the dairy product started 4 weeks before vaccination. The specific antibody levels against the three viral strains (H1N1, H3N2 and B) comprising the vaccine were measured 3 weeks after vaccination by a haemagglutination inhibition test, a semi-functional methodology validated by the WHO for influenza antibody measurement( Footnote 2 ).

Antibody levels against the three influenza strains were increased in elderly subjects consuming the probiotics compared with those consuming the acidified milk; however, these differences were not significant. A trend in favour of the probiotic group was also observed in relation to seroprotection against the H1N1 strain (64% of the subjects consuming probiotics showed seroprotection compared with 42.5% in the control group; P=0.08). Interestingly, two subpopulations were more responsive to the probiotic effect during vaccination, the free-living elderly and elderly women. In the free-living elderly population the probiotic dairy product significantly improved seroprotection against the H3N2 strain (16.2% more subjects in the probiotic group were H3N2-seroprotected compared with the control group; P=0.02) and significantly improved H3N2 seroconversion (27.3% more subjects in the probiotic group were H3N2-seroconverted compared with the control group; P=0.05). Among the women the probiotic group showed a significant increase in seroprotection against H1N1 (41.9% more subjects in the probiotic group were seroprotected; P=0.02) and a significant increase in H1N1 seroconversion (28% more subjects in the probiotic group were seroconverted; P=0.02).

The present study suggests that daily consumption of Actimel®, a probiotic fermented dairy product, can improve immune responses to influenza vaccination, and in particular seroprotection in a population reacting poorly to the vaccination.

References

1. Cox, RJ, Brokstad, KA & Ogra, P (2004) Scand J Immunol 59, 1–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

2. World Health Organization (2005) Weekly Epidemiological Record no. 33, p. 283. Geneva: WHO; available at http://www.who.int/wer/2005/wer8033.pdf