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Effects of probiotic supplementation over 5 months on routine haematology and clinical chemistry measures in healthy active adults

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 68, pages 1255–1257 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

Use of probiotic-containing foods and probiotic supplements is increasing; however, few studies document safety and tolerability in conjunction with defined clinical end points. This paper reports the effects of 150 days of supplementation with either a single- (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bl-04) or a double-strain (Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bi-07) probiotic on routine haematology and clinical chemistry measures in healthy active adults. Pre- to post-intervention changes in laboratory measures were determined and compared between supplement and placebo groups. Overall there were few differences in routine haematology and clinical chemistry measures between supplement and placebo groups post-intervention. Exceptions included plasma calcium (P=0.03) and urea (P=0.015); however, observed changes were small and within assay-specific laboratory reference ranges. These data provide evidence supporting the use of these probiotic supplements over a period of 5 months in healthy active adults without obvious safety or tolerability issues.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the participants for their involvement and time, and staff at the Australian Institute of Sport, particularly Ms Anna Neumaier. This study was funded by Danisco Sweeteners OY, now part of DuPont.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Basis of Disease—Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia

    A J Cox, N P West, P A Fricker & A W Cripps

  2. School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia

    A J Cox, N P West & A W Cripps

  3. Department of Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, Australia

    P L Horn & D B Pyne

  4. DuPont Nutrition & Health, Danisco Sweeteners Oy, Active Nutrition, Kantvik, Finland

    M J Lehtinen & S J Lahtinen

  5. ACT Pathology, Canberra, ACT, Australia

    G Koerbin

  6. Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, Australia

    P A Fricker

Authors
  1. A J Cox
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  2. N P West
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  3. P L Horn
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  4. M J Lehtinen
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  5. G Koerbin
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  6. D B Pyne
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  7. S J Lahtinen
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  8. P A Fricker
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  9. A W Cripps
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to N P West.

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Competing interests

Markus J Lehtinen and Sampo J Lahtinen are employees of Danisco Sweeteners Oy. Allan W Cripps is the recipient of research funding from Danisco Sweeteners Oy. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Cox, A., West, N., Horn, P. et al. Effects of probiotic supplementation over 5 months on routine haematology and clinical chemistry measures in healthy active adults. Eur J Clin Nutr 68, 1255–1257 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.137

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.137

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