DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i02.058

Pages: 594-599

Aging is associated with impaired immunity. Geriatric population requires benefits of immunomodulatory capabilities of Probiotic strains as envisaged to improve quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of probiotic strain Lactobacillus helveticus MTCC 5463 in geriatric volunteers of Gujarat, India. In a randomized placebo controlled cross-over trial, a total of 58 subjects randomized into two groups, were given during the intervention period either the fermented drink containing MTCC 5463 (test group) and a fermented drink but without probiotic strain (placebo group). The volunteers consumed 200 ml of the product once a day for 30 days. Serum samples were collected from both the groups before and after the interventions and tested for Tumor Necrosis Factoralpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) for cell-mediated immunity by microwell-ELISA and IgG and IgM for humoral immunity by nephelometric tests. In placebo group, 2.9% of the subjects showed beneficiary effect on TNF-α levels; while among probiotic group, 27.2% had such benefit (p = 0.011). In placebo group, beneficiary effect for IL- 2 was observed in 3.77% of the subjects; while, such beneficiary effect was observed in 20% subjects among probiotic group (p = 0.016). There were three cases showing a beneficiary effect on IFN–γ among probiotic group; but there was no such case among placebo group for the comparison. There were no cases with beneficiary effects observed on IgG or IgM levels among the either group. The present study clearly showed a significant immunomodulatory effect on the TNF- α and IL-2 levels for the benefit of geriatric volunteers among probiotic group. There was however no significant beneficiary effect found on IFN–γ, IgG or IgM levels.