1.
[Effect of the nutritional recovery on the concentration of Interleukin-2 in severely malnourished children].
Vásquez-Garibay, E, Stein, K, Méndez-Estrada, C, Pérez-Becerra, E, Romero-Velarde, E, Ibarra Gutiérrez, I, Ortiz Ortega, MA, García Iglesias, T
Archivos latinoamericanos de nutricion. 2008;(2):144-8
Abstract
The severely malnourished child has dysfunction of the immune response that may increase the risk of morbidity or mortality due to infectious diseases, therefore, the purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effect of intensive nutritional support on the cellular and serum concentration of IL-2 and CD4+, as well as CD8+ T cells in children with severe protein energy malnutrition. A clinical assay was carried out in a tertiary care hospital. 10 severely malnourished children < 48 months of age who received formula without lactose via enteral feeding for two weeks and ad libitum for an additional two weeks were included. Cellular and serum concentrations of IL-2 and the subpopulation of CD4+ and CD8+ were obtained. A control group (n = 13) was included. A paired student t test for initial-final determinations and the Mann-Whitney Test for comparison with control group were used, and null hypothesis was rejected with a p value < 0.05. There was a noteworthy increase in the comparison between the initial vs. final percentage of the cellular expression of IL-2 (p < 0.001) and in the serum concentration of IL-2 (p = 0.001). Therefore, four weeks of nutritional recovery significantly restored the production of IL-2, independently of the nutrients involved in the process, although, the rate of restoration seems to depend on the severity of the children primary PEM.
2.
Increased poliovirus-specific intestinal antibody response coincides with promotion of Bifidobacterium longum-infantis and Bifidobacterium breve in infants: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Mullié, C, Yazourh, A, Thibault, H, Odou, MF, Singer, E, Kalach, N, Kremp, O, Romond, MB
Pediatric research. 2004;(5):791-5
Abstract
To determine whether the size of the intestinal bifidobacterial population can influence the immune response to poliovirus vaccination in infants, we set up a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. From birth to 4 mo, infants were given a fermented infant formula (FIF) or a standard formula (placebo). Bifidobacteria were quantified monthly in infant stools. Antipoliovirus IgA response to Pentacoq was assessed before and 1 mo after the second vaccine injection. Thirty infants were randomized, and 20 completed the study (nine in the placebo group and 11 in the FIF group). Fecal bifidobacterial level was significantly higher with the FIF group at 4 mo of age (p=0.0498). Furthermore, B. longum/B. infantis carriage was higher at 4 mo in the FIF group (p=0.0399). Antipoliovirus IgA titers increased after Pentacoq challenge (p <0.001), and the rise was significantly higher in the FIF group (p <0.02). Antibody titers correlated with bifidobacteria, especially with B. longum/B. infantis and B. breve levels (p <0.002). Infants who harbored B. longum/B. infantis also exhibited higher levels of antipoliovirus IgAs (p <0.002). In conclusion, the present results indicate that antipoliovirus response can be triggered with a fermented formula that is able to favor intestinal bifidobacteria. Whether this effect on the immune system is achieved through the bifidogenic effect of the formula (mainly through B. longum/B. infantis and B. breve stimulation) or directly linked to compounds (i.e. peptides) produced by milk fermentation remains to be investigated.