The potential benefiting effects of probiotic Dahi on age-inflicted accumulation of oxidation products, antioxidant enzymes and expression of biomarkers of ageing were evaluated in mice. Probiotic Dahi were prepared by co-culturing in buffalo milk (3% fat) Dahi bacteria (Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris NCDC-86 and Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis biovar diacetylactis NCDC-60) along with selected strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus LaVK2 (La-Dahi) or combined L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum BbVK3 (LaBb-Dahi). Four groups of 12 months old mice (6 each) were fed for 4 months supplements (5 g/day) of buffalo milk (3% fat), Dahi, La-Dahi and LaBb-Dahi, respectively, with basal diet. The activities of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) declined and the contents of oxidation products, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and protein carbonyls, increased in red blood corpuscles (RBCs), liver, kidney and heart tissues and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased in RBCs and hepatic tissues during ageing of mice. Feeding ageing mice with La-Dahi or LaBb-Dahi increased CAT activity in all the four tissues, and GPx activity in RBCs and hepatic tissue, and a significant decline in TBARS in plasma, kidney and hepatic tissues and protein carbonyls in plasma. Feeding mice with probiotic Dahi also reversed age related decline in expression of biomarkers of ageing, peroxisome proliferators activated receptor-α, senescence marker protein-30 (SMP-30) and klotho in hepatic and kidney tissues. The present study suggests that probiotic Dahi containing selected strains of bacteria can be used as a potential nutraceutical intervention to combat oxidative stress and molecular alterations associated with ageing.

The present study investigated the effect of Dahi containing potential probiotic bacterial strains on macrophage functions in ageing mice. Probiotic Dahi was prepared by co-culturing Dahi bacteria (Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris and Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis biovar diacetylactis) along with Lactobacillus acidophilus LaVK2 (La-Dahi) or combined L. acidophilus LaVK2 and Bifidobacterium bifidum BbVK3 (LaBb-Dahi) in buffalo milk. The effect of ageing on phagocytic function was evaluated on 4 mo, 12 mo and 16 mo old mice. The effect of probiotic Dahi was evaluated for macrophage functions in ageing mice (12 mo old) fed La-Dahi or LaBb-Dahi supplements for 4 months. The production of extracellular superoxide and H 2 O 2 declined in peritoneal macrophages but enhanced in splenic macrophages, while intracellular superoxide declined in both peritoneal and splenic macrophages with ageing in mice. A decline in phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages was also observed in aged mice. Supplementation of diet with La-Dahi or LaBb-Dahi for 4 months improved production of reactive oxygen species and phagocytic and adherence indices of peritoneal macrophages in aged mice. These results suggest that oral administration of La-Dahi or LaBb-Dahi has potential to improve immune functions in ageing individuals.

This study evaluated the effects of probiotic Dahi administration in ageing mice on macrophage and lymphocyte functions. Probiotic Dahi were prepared by co-culturing in buffalo milk (3% fat) Dahi bacteria (Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris NCDC-86 and Lc. lactis ssp. lactis biovar diacetylactis NCDC-60) along with Lactobacillus acidophilus LaVK2 (La-Dahi) or combined Lb. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum BbVK3 (LaBb-Dahi). Four groups of 12 mo old mice were fed for four months, with the supplements (5 g/day) of buffalo milk (3% fat), Dahi, La-Dahi and LaBb-Dahi, respectively, in addition to basal diet, and a fifth group that received no supplements served as control. The immune functions of young mice (4 mo old) were also compared with those of ageing adult mice (16 mo old). The production of nitric oxide and cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α declined and that of immunosuppressive prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) increased by stimulated peritoneal and splenic macrophages in ageing mice, compared with their young counterparts. The proliferation of stimulated splenocytes diminished and the production of IL-2 decreased and that of IL-6 and TNF-α enhanced in ageing compared with young mice. Feeding ageing mice with La-Dahi or LaBb-Dahi improved peritoneal macrophage functions stimulating nitric oxide and IL-6 and diminishing PGE2 production. Feeding La-Dahi or LaBb-Dahi also improved lymphocyte functions stimulating their proliferation and production of IL-2 in ageing mice. To conclude, the probiotic La-Dahi and LaBb-Dahi are effective in reversing age related decline in immune functions in mice.

The present study investigated the effect of cow ghee (clarified butter fat) versus soybean oil on the expression of cyclins A and D1, and apoptosis regulating Bax, Bcl-2 and PKC-α genes in mammary gland of normal and 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) treated rats. Two groups of 21 days old female rats were fed for 44 weeks diet containing cow ghee or soybean oil (10%). The animals were given DMBA (30 mg/kg body weight) through oral intubation after 5 weeks feeding. Another two groups fed similarly but not given DMBA served as respective controls. In control groups, the expression of cyclin A was similar on both cow ghee and soybean oil, but that of cyclin D1 was more on soybean oil diet. However, in DMBA treated groups, the expression levels of cyclins A and D1 were significantly greater on soybean oil than on cow ghee. The expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2 and PKC-α were similar in two control groups. However, in tumor tissue expression levels of Bcl-2 and PKC-α were significantly lower in cow ghee fed rats than in soybean oil fed ones, but Bax was similarly expressed in both DMBA treated groups. The pro-apoptotic ratio Bax/Bcl-2 increased and the anti-apoptotic ratio PKC-α(Bcl-2/Bax) decreased in cow ghee group compared to soybean oil group in DMBA treated rats. Hence, the decreased expressions of cyclins A and D1, Bcl-2 and PKC-α mediate the mechanism by which cow ghee protects from mammary carcinogenesis.

Purpose Gut health has multidimensional impact on childhood growth and development. Diet being the major modulator of gut health, this study aims to hypothesize if supplementation of dietary prebiotics and vitamins can impact gut environment of healthy children. Design/methodology/approach A double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted with parallel allocation of children 8–13 years of age to placebo or test group. Test group was supplemented with 1.5 g of formulation comprising prebiotics and vitamins, and to placebo, maltodextrin (1.5 g) was supplemented. After four weeks, the effect on markers of gut health (i.e. beneficial microbes, and gut integrity markers such as secretory Immunoglobulin A [sIgA] and calprotectin concentration) was evaluated in feces of children. Findings Significant increase of 17.1% in fecal bifidobacteria counts (p = 0.04) was observed in the test group compared to placebo after four weeks. Also, fecal calprotectin concentration decreased (20%) significantly (p = 0.01) in test group compared to placebo. In addition, the test group showed significant improvement in fecal sIgA and lactobacilli compared to baseline concentration (p = 0.01 and 0.001, respectively). Research limitations/implications This study demonstrates that prebiotic (and vitamin) intervention may influence health outcomes in children by positively modulating markers of gut health. Originality/value There are limited studies demonstrating the efficacy of prebiotic and vitamins on gut health of school age children.