Immune Evidence to the Consumption of Lactobacillus GG and FOS Consumption in Patients With Herpes Labialis

Herpes labialis (HL) is the result of the presence of a virus called HSV-1 and is a common disease. Because of its visibility due to cold sores it has a serious impact on social life. Until now there is no effective treatment to prevent virus outbreaks. However, prebiotics and probiotics have both been shown to have a favorable and supportive effect on the immune system in different health conditions such as influenza, atopic dermatitis and diarrhea, so it is possible that they are able to have a favourable effect also on HL. A recently completed pilot clinical trial (Protocol Number 08-SBUS-2-GRA-01, EVIM-1) was completed using a fermented milk (minidrink) containing a combination of L. rhamnosus and FOS; it showed promising results in the reduction of HL recurrences in a population of 78 subjects with HSV-1. The study investigated the effect of pre- or probiotics or a combination of the two on the recurrence of HL lesions as well as on the immune system in general, showing that the consumption of a minidrink containing the probiotic L. rhamnosus or a minidrink containing a combination of L. rhamnosus and FOS reduced the occurrence and the incidence of recurrent HL lesions. Aim of this study: corroborate whether the consumption of a minidrink containing a combination of L. rhamnosus and FOS results in less recurrence and a better progression of HL lesion, in a larger population. In addition, the response of the consumption of the minidrink on the QoL and the response on immunity specific biomarkers were evaluated. Design: 152 patients were eligible to participate in the study and after a run-in period of two weeks consuming a placebo minidrink were randomized to one of the two experimental study groups: placebo minidrink (n=79) and a minidrink containing a combination of a pre- and probiotic (n=78). These minidrinks were consumed until the end of the study (day 140). At day 33 of the study the lip most prone to the development of a lesion was stimulated with UVB