Testing a Novel Dairy Protein to Counteract Immunosenescence
Testing a Novel Dairy Protein to Counteract Immunosenescence
Aging populations experience a decline in adaptive immune system function also known as
 immunosenesence. Nutritional approaches to stimulate and strengthen the immune system are
 needed for this growing segment of the population. A controlled, randomized, double blind
 pilot study was conducted using two different protein sources as nutritional supplementation
 to enhance vaccine response. Our objective was to examine the immune stimulating effects of
 dairy protein subjected to ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) radiation treatment process instead
 of pasteurization. Participants were 21 healthy individuals over 60 years of age who consumed
 6 g of the dairy protein or a comparison, soy isoflavone protein, twice a day for eight
 weeks. DTaP vaccine administered at week 4. Non-parametric t-tests revealed a significant
 increase in Tetanus antibodies in the dairy group compared to the soy group at week 8. These
 findings suggest additional benefits of UV-C treated unheated dairy protein as a solution to
 counteract immunosenescence, but warrant further study in elderly and other populations that
 might benefit from immune system stimulation.
Inclusion criteria included participants be more than 60 years of age. Volunteers underwent
 a physical examination and health assessment by a physician to ensure the absence of
 exclusion criteria which were regular consumption of greater than one unit of milk and/or
 milk products (milk, yogurt, fresh cheese, etc.) a day at the time of enrollment, known
 milk allergy, food faddism, other non-traditional diet, prolonged consumption of dairy
 supplements (greater than one daily during the previous four weeks), use of tobacco
 products in the previous 10 years, underlying neoplasia or immunological disease, including
 hypergammaglobunemia, renal disease or failure, use of steroids or immunosuppressive drugs
 in the previous eight weeks, reduced physical activity (New York Heart Association classes
 III-IV). Having received a DTaP vaccine within the last five years was an exclusion
 criteria for the study, but patient records were incomplete for many volunteers on this
 aspect. Therefore, volunteers with an initial Tetanus antibody level above 3 IU/mL were
 excluded from the study results as the volunteer was assumed to have had the DTaP vaccine
 within the last 5 years.