Effects of the intake of non-live Bifidobacterium bifidum on the faecal IgA of full-term infants: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study

Masaki Terahara; Yoshitaka Nakamura; Misato Tsuboi; Shinji Jinno; Takamitsu Tsukahara; Takao Miyake; Naoki Shimojo

doi:10.12938/bmfh.2021-018

Effects of the intake of non-live Bifidobacterium bifidum on the faecal IgA of full-term infants: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study

Biosci Microbiota Food Health. 2021;40(4):196-203. doi: 10.12938/bmfh.2021-018. Epub 2021 Aug 10.

Authors

Masaki Terahara¹, Yoshitaka Nakamura², Misato Tsuboi², Shinji Jinno², Takamitsu Tsukahara³, Takao Miyake⁴, Naoki Shimojo⁵

Affiliations

¹ R&D Management Department, Meiji Co., Ltd., 1-29-1 Nanakuni, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0919, Japan.
² Food Microbiology and Function Research Laboratories, Meiji Co., Ltd., 1-29-1 Nanakuni, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0919, Japan.
³ Kyoto Institute of Nutrition & Pathology Inc., 7-2 Furuiketani, Tachikawa, Ujitawara, Tsuzuki-gun, Kyoto 610-0231, Japan.
⁴ Miyake Women's Clinic, 1-18-5 Oyuminochuo, Midori-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 266-0032, Japan.
⁵ Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoicho, Inage-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.

Abstract

Bifidobacterium bifidum OLB6378 (OLB6378) was selected as a strain that enhances the production of secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) in vitro. This ability of non-live OLB6378 has been shown by a clinical trial in preterm infants. In the present study, we examined whether non-live OLB6378 also enhances the production of secretory IgA, even in full-term infants. One hundred full-term infants were allocated to receive formula with (BbF group, 49 infants) or without non-live OLB6378 (PF group, 51 infants). Breastfeeding was prioritised, so infant formula was used for infants with breastfeeding difficulties. The intervention was initiated by five days of age. The faecal IgA concentration and OLB6378 level were determined at one, two, four, and eight weeks of age. Faecal IgA in the BbF group (1.04 ± 0.47 mg/g of faeces, n=45) was significantly higher than that in the PF group (0.85 ± 0.42 mg/g of faeces, n=49) at four weeks of age (p=0.047). OLB6378 was not detected in faeces at any age. This indicated that production of secretory IgA in full-term infants may also be enhanced by non-live OLB6378 intake.

Keywords: breastfeeding; infant formula; newborn; probiotics.