This 12-months randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study aimed at investigating the effects of Lactobacillus casei Zhang (LCZ; 9 log CFU daily) against upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and gastrointestinal disorders in one hundred thirty-seven (n = 137) healthy adult and elderly Malaysians. LCZ alleviated URTI symptoms in adults, with reduced duration for nasal, pharyngeal, general flu and total respiratory illnesses symptoms compared to the placebo (P < 0.05). These were primarily attributed to activation of T-cells and B-cells and anti-inflammatory properties, as observed via reduced plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1), increased anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10), and upregulated whole blood expressions for CD4, CD8, CD44, CD27 and CXCR5 compared to the placebo (P < 0.05). In elderly subjects, LCZ reduced the duration of nasal symptoms, increased weekly defecation occurrences, and alleviated abnormality of RBC via stabilizing whole blood MCHC and ESR parameters with significant correlations against antioxidative (TBA) and immuno-modulatory (CD44) properties, as compared to the placebo (P < 0.05). With increasing needs for more evidence on strain- and host-dependent efficacy, our current study has illustrated the specific potentials of LCZ against URTI and gastrointestinal health in the adult and elderly populations.

这项为期12个月的随机，双盲和安慰剂对照研究旨在调查干酪乳杆菌的作用张（LCZ;每天9 log CFU）对抗一百三十七（n = 137）名健康成人和年长马来西亚人的上呼吸道感染（URTI）和胃肠道疾病。LCZ缓解了成年人的URTI症状，与安慰剂相比，鼻，咽，一般流感和总呼吸系统疾病症状的持续时间缩短了（P <0.05）。这些主要归因于T细胞和B细胞的活化以及抗炎特性，如通过降低血浆促炎细胞因子（IL-1），增加抗炎细胞因子（IL-4，IL-10）所观察到的，与安慰剂相比，CD4，CD8，CD44，CD27和CXCR5的全血表达上调（P <0.05）。在老年受试者中，LCZ减少了鼻部症状的持续时间，增加了每周排便次数，与安慰剂相比，可通过稳定全血MCHC和ESR参数来减轻RBC的异常，这些参数与抗氧化（TBA）和免疫调节（CD44）特性具有显着相关性（P <0.05）。随着对菌株和宿主依赖性功效的更多证据需求的增加，我们的当前研究表明了成人和老年人口中LCZ对抗URTI和胃肠道健康的特定潜力。