Impact of probiotic supplementation on exercise endurance among nonelite athletes: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, clinical trial.

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel trial investigated whether generally healthy adult, nonelite runners would have a greater time-to-exhaustion during submaximal treadmill running with probiotic versus placebo supplementation. It was hypothesized that the probiotic would impact training progression by reducing gastrointestinal (GI) and cold/flu symptoms. Participants who typically ran ≥24 km/week, ran or cross-trained 3-5 days per week, and had a maximal oxygen intake (V̇O max) in the 60-85th percentile were enrolled.

The effect of an acute aspirin challenge on intestinal permeability in healthy adults with and without prophylactic probiotic consumption: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial.

Background: Healthy individuals may experience increases in intestinal permeability after chronic or acute use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which may be attenuated by probiotics. This study investigates the effects of an acute aspirin challenge on gastroduodenal barrier function with or without prophylactic probiotic consumption.

Methods: Twenty-nine generally healthy participants (26 ± 6 years) completed a 14-week randomized, double-blind, crossover trial.

Validation of a novel quality of life questionnaire: the Digestion-associated Quality of Life Questionnaire (DQLQ).

Background: Few health-related quality of life (QOL) questionnaires are designed specifically for healthy populations and are specific to gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms even though healthy individuals may frequently experience gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a tool that could assess the impact of GI symptoms on digestion-associated QOL in otherwise healthy individuals.

Methods: After a review of current literature and with input from experienced GI researchers, a 24-item questionnaire was created.

Mediterranean Diet Adherence in People With Parkinson's Disease Reduces Constipation Symptoms and Changes Fecal Microbiota After a 5-Week Single-Arm Pilot Study.

Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) such as gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction are common, yet little is known about how modifying dietary intake impacts PD symptoms. The aim of this study in individuals with PD was to determine whether a Mediterranean diet intervention is feasible and affects GI function, intestinal permeability and fecal microbial communities. A single-arm, 5-week Mediterranean diet intervention study was conducted in eight people with PD.

Effect of a Mediterranean diet intervention on gastrointestinal function in Parkinson's disease (the MEDI-PD study): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Constipation is a common and sometimes debilitating non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) that can result in intestinal inflammation and microbial dysbiosis. The Mediterranean diet, rich in fermentable fibres and anti-inflammatory phenolic compounds, is associated with reduced risk of developing PD and slower progression of parkinsonism. The Mediterranean diet is often recommended for people with PD; however, no studies to date examine this diet as a therapeutic intervention to modulate gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction.

In healthy adults, resistant maltodextrin produces a greater change in fecal bifidobacteria counts and increases stool wet weight: a double-blind, randomized, controlled crossover study.

Dietary fiber stimulates the growth of potentially beneficial bacteria (eg, bifidobacteria), yet most Americans do not meet daily fiber recommendations. Resistant maltodextrin (RMD), a fermentable functional fiber, may help individuals meet total fiber recommendations and potentially increase bifidobacteria. It was hypothesized that fecal bifidobacteria counts/ng fecal DNA would increase after adding 25 g RMD to inadequate fiber diets of healthy adults.

Probiotics ( KS-13, G9-1, and MM-2) improve rhinoconjunctivitis-specific quality of life in individuals with seasonal allergies: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial.

Rhinoconjunctivitis-specific quality of life is often reduced during seasonal allergies. The Mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (MRQLQ) is a validated tool used to measure quality of life in people experiencing allergies (0 = not troubled to 6 = extremely troubled). Probiotics may improve quality of life during allergy season by increasing the percentage of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and inducing tolerance.

Diet quality improves for parents and children when almonds are incorporated into their daily diet: a randomized, crossover study.

The health benefits of nuts may, in part, be due to the fiber that provides substrate for the maintenance of a healthy and diverse microbiota. We hypothesized that consuming almonds would benefit immune status through improving diet quality and modulation of microbiota composition in parents and their children, while improving gastrointestinal function. In a crossover trial, 29 parents (35 ± 0.

Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1, and Bifidobacterium longum MM-2 Ingestion Induces a Less Inflammatory Cytokine Profile and a Potentially Beneficial Shift in Gut Microbiota in Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study.

Objective: This study determined whether older adults who consumed a probiotic mixture would have a greater proportion of circulating CD4+ lymphocytes, altered cytokine production, and a shift in intestinal microbiota toward a healthier microbial community.

Methods: Participants (70 ± 1 years [mean ± SEM]; n = 32) consumed a probiotic (Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1, and Bifidobacterium longum MM2) or a placebo twice daily for 3 weeks with a 5-week washout period between intervention periods. Blood and stools were collected before and after each intervention.

Consuming Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) Mushrooms Daily Improves Human Immunity: A Randomized Dietary Intervention in Healthy Young Adults.

Background: Mushrooms are widely cited for their medicinal qualities, yet very few human intervention studies have been done using contemporary guidelines.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether consumption of whole, dried Lentinula edodes (shiitake) mushrooms could improve human immune function. Primary objectives were to ascertain whether L.

Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071 results in a greater proportion of healthy days and a lower percentage of academically stressed students reporting a day of cold/flu: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Acute psychological stress is positively associated with a cold/flu. The present randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effect of three potentially probiotic bacteria on the proportion of healthy days over a 6-week period in academically stressed undergraduate students (n 581) who received Lactobacillus helveticus R0052, Bifidobacterium longum ssp. infantis R0033, Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071 or placebo.

Bioavailability of herbs and spices in humans as determined by ex vivo inflammatory suppression and DNA strand breaks.

Objective: The aim of this work was to determine the bioavailability of herbs and spices after human consumption by measuring the ability to protect lymphocytes from an oxidative injury and by examining the impact on inflammatory biomarkers in activated THP-1 cells.

Methods: Ten to 12 subjects in each of 13 groups consumed a defined amount of herb or spice for 7 days. Blood was drawn from subjects before consumption and 1 hour after taking the final herb or spice capsules.

Fecal lactic acid bacteria increased in adolescents randomized to whole-grain but not refined-grain foods, whereas inflammatory cytokine production decreased equally with both interventions.

The intake of whole-grain (WG) foods by adolescents is reported to be approximately one-third the recommended intake of 48 g/d. This 6-wk randomized interventional study determined the effect of replacing grains within the diet with refined-grain (RG; n = 42) or WG (n = 41) foods/d on gastrointestinal and immune health in adolescents (aged 12.7 ± 0.

Regular consumption of concord grape juice benefits human immunity.

γδ T cells are important immune surveillance cells residing in epithelial layers lining the intestine, lung, and reproductive tract. The main objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that consumption of dietary compounds from grapes would modify γδ T-cell function. Other factors related to immune function after grape juice consumption were also tested.

Pharmacologic levels of dietary arginine in CB6F1 mice increase serum ammonia in the healthy state and serum nitrite in endotoxemia.

Background: Therapeutic or pharmacologic doses of arginine are used to enhance blood flow and immune function despite the lack of dose-response studies and the potential for adverse effects. This study determined the optimal level of oral arginine supplementation required to elevate serum arginine concentrations yet limit adverse effects in healthy and endotoxemic mice.

Methods: Male CB6F1 mice were fed one of the following diets: The standard AIN93G (3 g arginine/100 g of protein) or this diet modified to provide 10 g, 20 g, or 30 g arginine/100 g of protein.

Immunity and antioxidant capacity in humans is enhanced by consumption of a dried, encapsulated fruit and vegetable juice concentrate.

The daily consumption of fruits and vegetables is a common dietary recommendation to support good health. We hypothesized that a commercially available encapsulated fruit and vegetable juice powder concentrate (FVJC) could support functional indices of health due to increased intake of various phytonutrients. This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled investigation of 59 healthy law students who consumed either FVJC or placebo capsules for 77 d.

Arginine supplementation enhances mitogen-induced splenocyte proliferation but does not affect in vivo indicators of antigen-specific immunity in mice.

Arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid with many physiologic roles. Its role in immune function has been one of major focus with conflicting results. Early in vitro immune studies demonstrated increased mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation with dietary arginine supplementation; however, not all studies confirmed this effect.

Immune function is impaired with a mini nutritional assessment score indicative of malnutrition in nursing home elders with pressure ulcers.

Background: Malnutrition is prevalent in elders with pressure ulcers and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This study compared nutritional status, assessed by the Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA), to immune function in nursing home elders with pressure ulcers.

Methods: Nutritional status was assessed in nursing home residents (>65 years) with a stage II or more severe pressure ulcer.

Arginine and immunity: a unique perspective.

Arginine functions in the body as a free amino acid, a component of most proteins, and the substrate for several non-protein, nitrogen-containing compounds, many of which function in immunity. Although arginine is synthesized in the body, it is not made in sufficient quantities to support growth or meet metabolic requirements during periods of stress. Based on the biochemical and physiological role of arginine in maintaining health and immunity, arginine is being added at pharmacologic concentrations to enteral formulas to boost immune function.