Recently, Korean researchers published a comparative study article in the journal Nutrients, evaluating the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CBT-LR5 on cognitive function in elderly people suspected of suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which attracted attention in the industry.
What are LGG probiotics?
Lactobacillus rhamnosus(LGG) is a short, Gram-positive, homofermentative, facultative anaerobic, non-spore-forming bacillus that usually appears in chains. It is one of the common probiotics in the human intestine and is widely found in fermented foods (such as yogurt and cheese) and the human intestinal microecology system.
What is Lactobacillus rhamnosus used for?
The subjects of this Korean study were 20 patients with mild cognitive impairment aged over 60 years old, with an average age of 68.9 years old. They were randomly divided into a low-dose group and a high-dose group, with 10 people in each group. The low-dose group took 110¹⁰ CFU of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CBT-LR5 and 1622 mg of skim milk every day. The high-dose group took 110¹⁰ CFU of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CBT-LR5 and 4055 mg of skim milk every day. The assessment tools were ADAS-Cog13 (used to assess overall cognitive function) and MOCA-K (used to assess multiple subdomains of cognitive function, such as naming, delayed recall, orientation, etc.).
The experimental results showed that both the high-dose group and the low-dose group had an effect on cognitive improvement, but the efficacy of the low-dose group was significantly better than that of the high-dose group. The naming and delayed recall abilities of the low-dose group were significantly improved, and the overall cognitive ability was significantly enhanced. The orientation of the high-dose group was improved, and the overall cognitive ability showed an improvement trend. After supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus, the Lactobacillus genus increased significantly in the low-dose group and was positively correlated with the MOCA-K score. The significant improvement in naming and delayed recall abilities in the low-dose group may be related to the moderate intake of skim milk. Excessive intake of skim milk may weaken its benefits.
In addition, the low-dose group showed a significant decrease in amyloid-β1-40/42 levels, indicating positive changes in biomarkers related to cognitive function and improved cognitive ability.
The overall results showed that the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus CBT-LR5 and skim milk help slow cognitive decline by supporting intestinal health and brain function in the elderly. The positive findings of this study will help develop natural therapies with minimal or no side effects while significantly reducing the cost of treating cognitive impairment.
Benefits of CBT-LR5 in improving cognition
Lactobacillus rhamnosus CBT-LR5 is a strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus isolated from human feces by Koreans. Studies have found that the mechanism of action of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CBT-LR5 in improving cognition may have the following three aspects:
- Gut-brain axis regulation: Lactobacillus rhamnosus CBT-LR5 regulates the intestinal flora and increases the abundance of beneficial bacteria (such as lactobacilli), thereby affecting brain function. Metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced by intestinal flora may directly or indirectly affect cognitive function through the blood-brain barrier.
- Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects: Lactobacillus rhamnosus CBT-LR5 may improve cognitive function by reducing the production of inflammatory factors (such as PGE2 and TNF-α) and reducing neuroinflammation.
- Synergistic effect of skim milk: The main proteins in skim milk (such as proline and β-lactoglobulin) may support the survival of probiotics such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus CBT-LR5 and the growth of fermentation microorganisms, further enhancing the effect of probiotics in improving cognition.
Are there different types of Lactobacillus rhamnosus?
In addition to Lactobacillus rhamnosus CBT-LR5, Lactobacillus rhamnosus also includes multiple strains, each with unique genotypes and functional properties. Here are some well-known Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains:
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is one of the most well-known and widely used probiotics. It has bile and gastric acid resistance and good gastrointestinal colonization ability, and is highly safe. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG can regulate intestinal flora imbalance and protect intestinal barrier function. Other studies have found that Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG intervention can reduce intestinal bacterial translocation in rats exposed to chronic noise, restore intestinal and blood-brain barrier function, and improve intestinal bacterial balance, thereby preventing cognitive deficits and systemic inflammation by regulating the gut-brain axis.
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 is one of the most studied female probiotics, mainly used for female urogenital health, prevention and improvement of urinary tract infections. In addition, this strain has been shown to have other application potentials, such as improving allergies, intestinal-related complications, cardiovascular health, etc.
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001: Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 has a variety of beneficial health effects on children and pregnant women, including reducing the risk of eczema in infants and reducing the risk of gestational diabetes and postpartum depression in mothers. Other studies have found that Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 can reduce the severity of necrotizing enterocolitis in newborn mice and premature piglets.
Most of these ingredients are available in the market as supplements such as chewable tablets and capsules.
Prospect analysis of Lactobacillus rhamnosus
According to Verifiedmarketreports, the global Lactobacillus rhamnosus market is valued at $1.2 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $2.2 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.4% from 2024 to 2030. Currently, Lactobacillus rhamnosus is known for its beneficial effects on intestinal health, immune system and overall health, and consumers are increasingly interested in it. On the other hand, people are increasingly inclined to adopt more natural health therapies, and the demand for probiotics (especially Lactobacillus rhamnosus) is increasing. With the deepening of research, Lactobacillus rhamnosus will play a greater role in food, health products and medicines, providing more possibilities for human health.
Reference：
[1]https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/4/691
[2]https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/lactobacillus-rhamnosus-market/
