Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the effect of Lactobacillus paracasei K71 intake on salivary release of secretory immunoglobulin A

Lactobacillus paracasei K71 was shown to be effective in alleviating the severity of atopic dermatitis in a randomized controlled trial, and a preliminary open-label trial suggested that strain K71 intake enhanced secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) release in the saliva. This study investigated the effect of K71 on sIgA release in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. The trial included 62 Japanese subjects aged 20-64 years with relatively low rates of salivary sIgA release. Subjects (n=31 in each group) were randomly given a tablet containing 100 mg (approximately 2 x 10(11) bacteria) of K71 or a placebo tablet daily for 12 weeks. After eliminating data for eight subjects (four in each group) who met the exclusion criteria for efficacy analysis, data for 54 subjects were analyzed. The change in the rate of salivary sIgA release 8 weeks after initiation of the study compared with baseline was significantly higher in the K71 tablet group (105.5 +/- 119.0 mu g/min) than in the placebo group (52.7 +/- 62.6 mu g/min; p=0.047). There were no adverse events associated with intake of tablets containing K71. The safety of intake of L. paracasei K71 was also confirmed in an independent open-label trial with 20 healthy subjects who consumed excessive amounts of K71-containing food. L. paracasei K71 intake may therefore have some benefits in promoting mucosal immune function.