Journal of Nutraceuticals and Food Science

A Three Strain Postbiotic Mix Improves the Immune System Function after Oral Intake for 28-Days

Background: Dietary selenium complements are known to improve overall health and enhance different aspects of the immune response, participating in the function of the immune cells, cytokine secretion, regulation of chronic inflammation and control of excessive immune responses. In this study, our objective was to evaluate whether a selenium-rich postbiotic, composed of whole-cell Saccharomyces cerevisiae ABB S15, Kluyveromyces marxianus ABB S8 and Saccharomyces boulardii ABB S3 yeast strains, can act as provider of selenium to enhance the function of the human immune system after oral intake.

Methods and findings: A total of 15 volunteers were enrolled in a 28-day clinical study in which they complemented their normal diets with a daily dose of a novel selenium food supplement, “postbiotic immune”. Selenium levels in plasma were quantified by ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay), and the proliferation and activation of different subsets of lymphocytes isolated from PBMC’s (Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells) were assessed by flow cytometry using different cell markers. At the end of the study, we observed a higher proliferative capacity of total lymphocytes and specifically, of CD16+ lymphocytes (natural killer cells), upon stimulation with the CD3 and CD28 antibodies mimicking cell activation in vitro. Interestingly, we did not observe an increase in the activation of the lymphocyte subsets CD4+ (T helper cells) but CD16+, indicating that there was a specific activation of natural killer cells.

Conclusions: Altogether, our results suggest that orally ingested “Postbiotic immune” primes the human immune system to elicit a faster and more efficient immune response through the specific activation of natural killer cells.

Author(s): Jordi Cune Castellana, Maria Tintore Gazulla, Justyna Meissner, Marian Merino, Jose Luis Mullor and Carlos de Lecea Flores de Lemus

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