A recent study examined the impact of daily probiotic intake in the form of a dairy drink, on the immune response to influenza vaccine in a healthy elderly population > 70 years of age.
Two randomized, multicentre, double-blind controlled studies were conducted over two vaccination seasons in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. The participants were randomized to either receive the probiotic strain of Lactobacillus casei and fermented yogurt or a non-fermented control dairy product twice per day for either 6 weeks (2005/2006) or 13 weeks (2006/2007).
Vaccines were given a month after consuming the yogurt. Titres against 3 viral strains (H1N1, H3N2, & B) were measured at regular intervals post –vaccination; in both studies, antibody titres against the influenza virus were consistently higher in the probiotic group compared to control. The authors concluded that probiotic drink improves antibody responses to influenza vaccination in the elderly.
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