Journal Article

Lactococcus lactis Strain Plasma Intake Suppresses the Incidence of Dengue Fever-like Symptoms in Healthy Malaysians: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Osamu Kanauchi, Ryohei Tsuji, Jian-Hai Chai, Siti-Sarah Nor’e, Yih-Harng Soh, Naoki Yamamoto, Takeshi Kokubo, Chee-Sieng Khor, Sazaly AbuBakar, Adzzie-Shazleen Azman, Norhidayu Sahimin, Vunjia Tiong, Pouya Hasandarvish, Boon-Teong Teoh, Hai-Yen Lee

2021

Overview

Dengue fever (DF) is a mosquito-borne disease still with no effective treatment or vaccine available. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, parallel-group trial was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of oral intake of Lactococcus lactis strain plasma (LC-Plasma) on the presentation and severity of DF-like symptoms among healthy volunteers. Study participants (320) were assigned into two groups, and consumed either placebo or LC-Plasma tablets (approximately 100 billion cells/day) for 8 weeks. The clinical symptoms of DF were self-recorded through questionnaires, and exposure to DENV was determined by serum antibody and/or DENV antigen tests. No significant differences between groups were observed for exposure to DENV, or the symptomatic ratio. Results obtained showed that participants from the LC-Plasma group reported a significant reduction in the cumulative incidence days of DF-like symptoms, which include fever (p < 0.001), muscle pain (p < 0.005), joint pain (p < 0.001), and pain behind the eyes (p < 0.001), compared to that of the placebo group. Subgroup analysis revealed a significantly (p < 0.05) reduced severity score in the LC-Plasma group when study sites were separately analyzed. Overall, our findings suggest that LC-Plasma supplementation reduces the cumulative days with DF-like symptoms, and the severity of the symptoms. Daily oral intake of LC-Plasma, hence, is shown to mitigate the DF-like symptoms.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Administration, Oral / Adult / antibodies / antigens / blood serum / Dendritic cells / dengue / Dengue - epidemiology / Dengue - prevention & control / Dengue - virology / Dengue fever / Dengue Virus - immunology / dengue virus; dengue fever; LC-Plasma; Lactococcus lactis; lactic acid bacteria / Double-Blind Method / Double-blind studies / Female / fever / Gram-positive bacteria / Humans / Illnesses / Immune system / Infections / Influenza / Lactococcus lactis / Lactococcus lactis - immunology / Malaysia - epidemiology / Male / mosquito-borne diseases / muscles / Oral administration / Pain / placebos / Plasma / Probiotics - administration & dosage / Self evaluation / Treatment Outcome / Vaccines