Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to a combination of <em>Bifidobacterium longum</em> LA 101, <em>Lactobacillus helveticus</em> LA 102, <em>Lactococcus lactis</em> LA 103 and <em>Streptococcus thermophilus</em> LA 104 and reducing intestinal discomfort pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Following an application from PiLeJe, submitted pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of France, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to a combination of Bifidobacterium longum LA 101, Lactobacillus helveticus LA 102, Lactococcus lactis LA 103 and Streptococcus thermophilus LA 104 and reducing intestinal discomfort. The food that is the subject of the health claim is a combination of four bacterial strains—B. longum LA 101, L. helveticus LA 102, L. lactis LA 103 and S. thermophilus LA 104. The Panel considers that the food, a combination of B. longum LA 101, L. helveticus LA 102, L. lactis LA 103 and S. thermophilus LA 104, which is the subject of the health claim is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect proposed by the applicant is "improves intestinal comfort". The Panel considers that reduction of gastro-intestinal discomfort is a beneficial physiological effect. The Panel considers that the only human study provided for the substantiation of the claim (with limitations) did not find an effect of a combination of the bacterial strains being the subject of the claim on gastrointestinal discomfort. The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of a combination of B. longum LA 101, L. helveticus LA 102, L. lactis LA 103 and S. thermophilus LA 104 and reducing gastro-intestinal discomfort

Probiotiques et intestin irritable : à propos d’une étude randomisée en double aveugle contre placebo sur l’efficacité du mélange de souches Lactibiane Référence sur les symptômes associés à l’intestin irritable

Un intérêt croissant est porté au rôle du microbiote dans la pathogénie de l’intestin irritable et aux probiotiques pour tenter de l’améliorer dans son ensemble ou dans certains de ses composants (notamment les douleurs abdominales). Nous avons évalué l’efficacité d’un complément alimentaire à base de probiotiques, Lactibiane Référence, sur les symptômes associés aux troubles fonctionnels intestinaux (TFI). Cent seize patients souffrant de TFI identifiés selon les critères de Rome II ont été inclus dans une étude clinique randomisée en double aveugle contre placebo. Ils ont reçu pendant 4 semaines un placebo ou Lactibiane Référence (1.1010 ufc une fois par jour). Les symptômes étudiés ont inclus l’inconfort, la douleur abdominale, la fréquence et la qualité des selles et la qualité de vie (évaluée par les échelles SF36 et FDD-QOL). 100 sujets ont terminé l’étude (48 sous Lactibiane Référence, 52 sous placebo). Le mélange probiotiques ne s’est pas révélé supérieur au placebo dans l’amélioration du score global de TFI (42,6 % vs 42,3 % d’amélioration). Par contre, la diminution de la douleur abdominale entre la première et la dernière semaine de traitement était significativement plus importante chez les patients ayant consommé Lactibiane Référence (- 41,9 % vs - 24,2 %, p = 0,048). De plus, l’analyse des sous-groupes a permis de mettre en évidence une augmentation dès le première semaine de traitement de la fréquence des selles chez les patients souffrant de TFI avec constipation prédominante (p = 0,043)

Genetic variants in BCMO1 and CD36 are associated with plasma lutein concentrations and macular pigment optical density in humans

International audienceLutein is recovered at high concentration in the human macula lutea. Recent studies suggest that this micronutrient might be implicated in prevention of age-related macular degeneration. Objective. To identify genes which affect blood and retina lutein concentrations among candidate genes (intestinal sterol transporters and carotenoid oxygenases). Design. A comparative plus an observational study. Participants. Twenty-nine healthy subjects for the comparative study and 622 subjects for the observational study. Intervention and methods. All the participants were genotyped for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the candidate genes. Fasting plasma lutein concentrations were measured in all the participants and after 6 months' supplementation, with either a lutein-rich supplement or a placebo, in the 29 subjects who participated in the comparative study. Macular pigment optical density (MPOD), which is a measure of macula concentration of lutein, was measured before and after the dietary intervention in the 29 subjects. Associations between SNPs and plasma lutein and MPOD were assessed by partial least square (PLS) regression followed by univariate analysis. Observed associations between SNPs and plasma lutein were verified by haplotype-based association analysis in the cohort of 622 subjects. Main outcome measures. Plasma lutein levels and MPOD. Results. Six SNPs in four genes (ABCG8, BCMO1, CD36, and NPC1L1) explained 25% and 38% of the plasma and MPOD variance, respectively. Subjects with TT at the BCMO1 rs7501331 locus had lower (P < 0.05) plasma lutein than CT subjects. Subjects with CC at the CD36 rs13230419 locus had lower (P < 0.05) plasma lutein than subjects who carried a T allele. The association between CD36 and plasma lutein was confirmed in the cohort of 622 subjects. Subjects with TT at the BCMO1 rs7501331 locus had a higher (P < 0.05) MPOD, and subjects with GG at rs1761667 CD36 locus had a higher (P < 0.05) MPOD than those with an A allele. Conclusions. These results suggest that BCMO1 and CD36 are implicated in plasma and retina concentrations of lutein and that genetic variants in these genes can modulate blood and retina concentrations of lutein

Effect of a Mediterranean Dietary Pattern and Vitamin D Levels on Dry Eye Syndrome

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between a Mediterranean dietary pattern (MeDi) and Vitamin D levels on dry eye syndrome (DES) METHODS: DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Male patients seen in the Miami Veterans Affairs eye clinic with normal eyelid, corneal, and conjunctival anatomy were recruited to participate in the study. TESTING: Patients filled out the 2005 Block Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and the Dry Eye Questionnaire 5 (DEQ5) and underwent measurement of tear film parameters. Serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D was also measured. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Association between MeDi, Vitamin D levels and dry eye syndrome. RESULTS: 247 men underwent DES testing. The mean patient age was 69 years (range 55 to 95). Using latent class analysis (LCA) to categorize the presence/absence of disease and quantify its severity, we found that adherence to the MeDi was positively associated with the risk both of having DES (odd ratio (OR) 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–1.47) p=0.007) and with increasing disease severity. Vitamin D levels were not significantly associated with presence or severity of disease. However, higher levels of vitamin D were associated with decreased DES symptoms, with a −1.24 decrease in median DEQ5 score for every 10 unit increase in Vitamin D levels (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to the MeDi was not associated with a beneficial effect on DES. Higher vitamin D levels had a small, but favorable effect on DES symptoms

A multispecies Lactobacillus-and Bifidobacterium-containing probiotic mixture attenuates body weight gain and insulin resistance after a short-term challenge with a high-fat diet in C57/BL6J mice

International audienceA multispecies Lactobacillus- and Bifidobacterium-containing probiotic mixture significantly reduced the adverse metabolic and inflammatory effects of a 14-week high-fat diet in wild-type C57/BL6J mice gavaged 5 days a week with the probiotic mixture or vehicle. Recent evidence indicates that the gut microbiome may play a decisive role in the onset of obesity and associated chronic metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, by modulating nutrient absorption and factors conducive to development of a persistent low-grade inflammatory state. By modifying the gut microbiome, probiotics might constitute an effective dietary strategy for managing these metabolic disorders. The tested probiotic mixture significantly attenuated the increase in body weight, serum glucose concentration and insulin resistance induced by the high-fat diet. Furthermore, it significantly reduced the up-regulation of expression of several genes encoding pro-inflammatory adipokines and leukotriene pathway enzymes (CCL-2, IL-6 and leukotriene C4 synthase in adipose tissue, leukotriene C4 synthase and leukotriene A4 hydrolase in the gut). It also significantly counteracted the down-regulation of adipose tissue gene expression related to the anti-inflammatory adipokine adiponectin in mice fed the high-fat diet. These results suggest that the mechanism underlying the beneficial metabolic effects of the probiotic mixture might involve inhibition of gut and adipose tissue inflammation