Probiotic Fermented Milk in a Malnutrition Model

In addition, the growth deficit of colon wall strata as well as the alteration of goblet cells/entero-cytes ratio induced in malnourished rats was prevented by the probiotics Bijidumbacterium bifidus and Lact. acidophilus (Lima et aL 2012). 

The number of IgA+ cells, CD4-H and CD8-H T lymphocytes were determined by direct immunofluorescence macrophages (F4/80-H cells) and dendritic cells (DC) were determined by indirect immunofluorescence on sUdes prepared with the small intestine tissue of mice from different experimental groups well-nourished control (WC), malnourished control (MC), and mice re-nourished with whole milk (Milk), probiotic fermented milk (PFM) or bacterial free supernatant (BFS). 

Results are expressed as the number of positive cells per ten fields of vision (lOOOX). Values are means for n = 9 mice SD. 

Means for each cell population without a common letter differ significantly (P 0.05). Values are those obtained from Maldonado Galdeano et al. (2011). 

It is also important to consider that malnutrition is one of the most common causes that induce secondary immunodeficiency in children and is associated with increased risk for infections. Studies conducted by Taylor et al. (2013) showed that PEM increased susceptibility to influenza infection in mice. In addition, Cheung et al. (2012) observed that probiotic administration improved the general status of patients with liver disease and prevented complications, such as ascites and inflammation. Other studies performed in humans have demonstrated that children with PEM given a probiotic-like curd accelerated the immune recovery, improving both cellular and humoral immune responses (Dewan et al. 2007). 

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