Early Probiotic Supplementation of Healthy Term Infants with subsp. M-63 Is Safe and Leads to the Development of -Predominant Gut Microbiota: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Bifidobacteria are important intestinal bacteria that provide a variety of health benefits in infants. We investigated the efficacy and safety of subsp. () M-63 in healthy infants in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Lactoferrin and its digestive peptides induce interferon-α production and activate plasmacytoid dendritic cells ex vivo.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) recognise viral single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) or CpG DNA via Toll-like receptor (TLR)-7 and TLR9, and produce interferon (IFN)-α. Activated pDCs upregulate human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR and CD86 expression levels. Ingestion of bovine lactoferrin (LF) activates pDCs, but little is known about its effects.

Pharmaceutical Potential of Casein-Derived Tripeptide Met-Lys-Pro: Improvement in Cognitive Impairments and Suppression of Inflammation in APP/PS1 Mice.

Background: Tripeptide Met-Lys-Pro (MKP), a component of casein hydrolysates, has effective angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. Brain angiotensin II enzyme activates the NADPH oxidase complex via angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1) and enhances oxidative stress injury. ACE inhibitors improved cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models and previous clinical trials.

Clinical research review: usefulness of bovine lactoferrin in child health.

Lactoferrin (LF) is abundant in human milk and plays an important role in the health of children. Bovine LF (bLF) has high homology with human LF and has been reported to have multiple biological functions. Several clinical studies have been conducted considering these properties, which reported the usefulness of bLF.

Bifidobacterium response to lactulose ingestion in the gut relies on a solute-binding protein-dependent ABC transporter.

This study aims to understand the mechanistic basis underlying the response of Bifidobacterium to lactulose ingestion in guts of healthy Japanese subjects, with specific focus on a lactulose transporter. An in vitro assay using mutant strains of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum 105-A shows that a solute-binding protein with locus tag number BL105A_0502 (termed LT-SBP) is primarily involved in lactulose uptake.

Colonization of Supplemented M-16V in Low Birth Weight Infants and Its Effects on Their Gut Microbiota Weeks Post-administration.

The colonization and persistence of probiotics introduced into the adult human gut appears to be limited. It is uncertain, however, whether probiotics can successfully colonize the intestinal tracts of full-term and premature infants. In this study, we investigated the colonization and the effect of oral supplementation with M-16V on the gut microbiota of low birth weight (LBW) infants.

Immuno-modulation by heat-killed MCC1849 and its application to food products.

Probiotics are microorganisms that confer health benefits to host. Well-known examples include and species. In recent years, interest in promoting our health with probiotics has grown as life expectancy and health awareness has increased.

Safety evaluation of high-dose intake of casein-derived peptide Met-Lys-Pro in healthy adults: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Met-Lys-Pro (MKP) is a casein-derived angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide with the potential to cross the blood-brain barrier. It has shown preventive effects against high blood pressure (BP) and cognitive decline in animal models and human studies. MKP shows good water solubility and can be blended into a variety of foods.

Effects of Lactoferrin on Prevention of Acute Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Winter: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial for Staff of Kindergartens and Nursery Schools in Japan.

This study investigated the preventive effects of lactoferrin (LF) on subjective acute gastrointestinal symptoms during the winter in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled parallel-group comparative trial. The eligible subjects were healthy adults working at kindergartens and nursery schools. We randomized the subjects to the Placebo group (0 mg/day), the Low LF group (200 mg/day), and the High LF group (600 mg/day) for 12 weeks.

Effects of Lactoferrin on Sleep Conditions in Children Aged 12-32 Months: A Preliminary, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To investigate preliminarily the effect of lactoferrin (LF)-fortified formula on sleep conditions in children.

Study Design: A preliminary, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Methods: Healthy children between the ages of 12 and 32 months who attended nursery schools in Japan were divided into two groups and assigned a placebo or LF (48 mg/day)-fortified formula.

Neuroprotective Effects of Casein-Derived Peptide Met-Lys-Pro (MKP) in a Hypertensive Model.

We have previously reported that casein hydrolysate, CH-3, from bovine milk and casein-derived tripeptide Met-Lys-Pro (MKP) has ACE inhibitory activity and reduces blood pressure. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of MKP in a hypertensive rat model (7-week-old male SHRSP/Izm rats). For long term evaluation, rats were fed either a diet containing CH-3 or normal diet.

Exclusive use of digital PCR allows an absolute assay of heat-killed Lactobacilli in foods targeting multiple copies of 16S rDNA.

The real-time PCR (qPCR) and digital PCR (dPCR) to amplify a single-copy of house-keeping genes (i.e., hsp60, pheS or tuf) are used for the assay of limited microbial species.

Effect of the Casein-Derived Peptide Met-Lys-Pro on Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Adults Without Dementia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Preventative measures have recently been taken to reduce the incidence of Alzheimer's disease worldwide. We previously showed that Met-Lys-Pro (MKP), a casein-derived angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide with the potential to cross the blood-brain barrier, attenuated cognitive decline in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. However, the effect of MKP on cognitive function improvement in humans remains unknown.

Effects of low-dose Aloe sterol supplementation on skin moisture, collagen score and objective or subjective symptoms: 12-week, double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Daily oral intake of 40 μg Aloe sterol was shown in a double-blind clinical trial to significantly increase skin barrier function, moisture and elasticity. Ultrasonographic results also suggested that the intake of Aloe sterol increases collagen content in the dermis. Here, we evaluate the effects of a much smaller dose of Aloe sterol, approximately half that used previously, on skin functions in more detail.

Effects of Lactoferrin-Fortified Formula on Acute Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Children Aged 12-32 Months: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

We investigated the effects of lactoferrin (LF)-fortified formula on acute gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms in children. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Children aged 12-32 months in Japan.

Antiviral effects of bovine lactoferrin on human norovirus.

Human noroviruses cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, but lack approved antivirals or vaccines to treat or prevent infections. The recent development of two cell culture systems in human transformed B cells (BJABs) and non-transformed human intestinal enteroid cultures overcomes a main limitation in identifying molecules with anti-norovirus activities. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein found in the milk of most mammals, with broad spectrum antimicrobial activities, including against the related murine norovirus in cell culture.

Dietary Lactoferrin Supplementation Prevents Memory Impairment and Reduces Amyloid-β Generation in J20 Mice.

Lactoferrin (LF) is present in senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and amyloid-β protein precursor transgenic (AβPP-Tg) mice. LF has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions, which exert neuroprotective effects against AD. However, its effects on memory impairment and AD pathogenesis have not been fully examined.

Effects of Lactoferrin on Subjective Skin Conditions in Winter: A Preliminary, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objective: To investigate the effects of lactoferrin (LF) on subjective skin conditions in winter.

Design: A preliminary, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting And Subjects: Healthy adults in Japan.

Exploring the Science behind Bifidobacterium breve M-16V in Infant Health.

Probiotics intervention has been proposed as a feasible preventative approach against adverse health-related complications in infants. Nevertheless, the umbrella concept of probiotics has led to a massive application of probiotics in a range of products for promoting infant health, for which the strain-specificity, safety and efficacy findings associated with a specific probiotics strain are not clearly defined. M-16V is a commonly used probiotic strain in infants.

Effects of orally administered lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase on symptoms of the common cold.

Objectives: Lactoferrin (LF) and lactoperoxidase (LPO) are present in human saliva. LF has been demonstrated to show antibacterial and antiviral activities. In saliva, LPO catalyzes the hydrogen peroxide-dependent oxidation of thiocyanate to hypothiocyanite that exhibits antimicrobial and antiviral properties.

Orally administered heat-killed Lactobacillus paracasei MCC1849 enhances antigen-specific IgA secretion and induces follicular helper T cells in mice.

Antigen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) A plays a major role in host defense against infections in gut mucosal tissue. Follicular helper T (Tfh) cells are located in germinal centers and promote IgA production via interactions with germinal center B cells. Several studies have demonstrated that some lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains activate the host's acquired immune system, inducing IgA secretion in the intestine.

Degradation of food-derived opioid peptides by bifidobacteria.

Some food-derived opioid peptides have been reported to cause diseases, such as gastrointestinal inflammation, celiac disease, and mental disorders. Bifidobacterium is a major member of the dominant human gut microbiota, particularly in the gut of infants. In this study, we evaluated the potential of Bifidobacterium in the degradation of food-derived opioid peptides.