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Most of us know that washing hands, getting plenty of rest, getting your vitamin D and eating a diet rich in antioxidants and various botanicals (such as Echinacea, Astragalus, Elderberry and mushroom blends) can help boost the immune system. But what other immune-boosting tactics might be missing from your medicine cabinet? To keep the immune system running strong, there might not be just one magic bullet. However, more and more research points to the power of probiotics in supporting immune health.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that probiotics provided the test group with a 53% lower incidence of fever (for the single strain) and 73% reduction for the group taking the combination probiotic. Probiotics also increased comfort for those suffering from cold and flu symptoms, including coughing and congestion. The group taking the supplement also missed fewer days from daycare, 32% fewer days to be exact. Antibiotic use was also less; 68% less in the single strain group and 84% less in the combination strain group.
Probiotics Targeting Immune Health: Two strains called Lactobacillus delbrueckii LE and Lactobacillus rhamnosus LB3 work synergistically in combination to support otolaryngeal health and overall immunity. Clinical testing was performed in the Hospital of Institute of Otolaryngology Academy of Medical Sciences, Kiev, 2002-2006, for State Program “New Probiotics for Otolaryngology”. Strains of L. delbrueckii LE and L. rhamnosus LB3, as well as combination blends, were found to demonstrate high levels of antagonistic activity towards the microbes most frequently found in chronic and recurrent ENT infections.
Increased Immune Activity: In addition to showing a high degree of adhesion to the mucous coat of the upper air passages, application of the formulation resulted in a statistically reliable increase of the number of tonsillar cells producing IgA, as well as increased activity of the natural cytotoxic tonsillar cells, and increased number of tonsillar cells with surface antigens CD25 and CD56.
Probiotic formulations based on these strains also induced a proficient immune response by TH1-type cytokines, inhibited fatty cellular infiltration of tonsils tissue, and stimulated progression of B-cell lymphocytes and high glycogen macrophages. It was observed that this probiotic formulation stimulated IFN up to 4.5-fold, induced production of the IL-4, increased IgG and IgA up to 2.5-fold, and intensified glycogen synthesis in phagocytes. L. rhamnosus LB3 demonstrated more effective activation of humoral immune response; whereas, L. delbruekit LE showed mostly cell-mediated immune response.
In one study, tonsillar cells from patients with adenoid disease were cultivated with L. rhamnosus LB3. After four hours, L. rhamnosus LB3 had increased the number of cells with membrane antigen CD25 (activated cells), increased the number of IgA producers by 30%, and intensified the functional activity of the natural cytotoxic cells 3.4 times as much.
The specific combination of these strains also demonstrated antagonistic action in relation to a number of ENT pathogens, and help support a healthy immune response in their presence.
O.Volska, D.Zabolotna. Study of the mechanisms of antagonistic activity of the Probiotics. Journal of ear, nose and throat diseases, No3-c, 2003,p.164-165.
During times when health can be compromised with increased exposure to pathogens, it’s important to eat a diet rich in micronutrients, manage stress levels, get plenty of sleep, drink enough water and supplement when necessary with extra antioxidants and botanicals. However, probiotics just might give that added immune boost you need.
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