Abstract
Background This study explored the effects of maternal probiotic supplementation on immune markers in cord blood (CB) and breast milk.
Methods CB plasma and breast milk samples were collected from a cohort of women who had received daily supplements of either 6 x 10(9) CFU/day Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 (n = 34), 9 x 10(9) CFU/day Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 (n = 35) or a placebo (n = 36) beginning 2-5 weeks before delivery and continuing for 6 months in lactating women. CB plasma and breast milk (collected at 3-7 days, 3 months and 6 months postpartum) were assayed for cytokines (IL-13, IFN-gamma, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-10, TGF-beta 1) and sCD 14. Breast milk samples were also assayed for total IgA.
Results Neonates of mothers who received a probiotic had higher CB IFN-gamma levels (P = 0.026), and a higher proportion had delectable blood IFN-gamma levels, compared with the placebo group (P = 0.034), although levels were undetectable in many infants. While this pattern was evident for both probiotics, when examined separately only the L. rhamnosus HN001 group showed statistically significant higher IFN-gamma levels (P = 0.030) compared with the placebo group. TGF-beta 1 levels were higher in early breast milk (week 1) from the probiotic groups (P = 0.028). This was evident for the B. lactis HN019 group (P = 0.041) with a parallel trend in the L. rhamnosus HN001 group (P = 0.075). Similar patterns were seen for breast milk IgA, which was more readily detected in breast milk from both the B. lactis HN019 (P = 0.008) and the L. rhamnosus HN001 group (P = 0.011). Neonatal plasma sCD 14 levels were lower in the B. lactis HN019 group compared with the placebo group (P = 0.041).
Conclusion The findings suggest that supplementation with probiotics in pregnancy has the potential to influence fetal immune parameters as well as immunomodulatory factors in breast milk.