Inflammaging, a newer term used to describe chronic inflammation that accompanies aging, was investigated in a recently published study. The UN has estimated that the population aged 65 years and older will continue to rise during the coming years, eventually doubling by 20501. With an increased older population, the demands on the healthcare system will ultimately increase, driving higher costs and longer wait times. The increase in expected lifespan can also be seen on an individual and marketing level, as more and more people are actively searching for ways to improve their longevity and healthy aging.
The new study is the 4th clinical study performed on the proprietary strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 (HEAL9™) investigating its benefits in the Gut-Brain area. The study included older adults (>70 years) with chronic low-grade inflammation and investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of HEAL9, alone or in combination with berries. The results showed significantly decreased levels of inflammation, which could play a role in chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
Intake of HEAL9 was shown to decrease inflammatory levels, with significantly decreased calprotectin overall compared to placebo. Significantly fewer participants had elevated calprotectin at the study’s end compared to placebo. There was also a tendency of decreased CRP within the HEAL9 group not seen with placebo, and of reduced pro-inflammatory marker TNF-alpha in the HEAL9 group compared to placebo. Cognitive assessment using the Trail Making Test also showed improvement with HEAL9 consumption. The combination of HEAL9 with berries seemed not to be more beneficial for improving low-grade inflammation than the HEAL9 alone.
“With the findings of this 4th clinical study, showing the benefits of our HEAL9 strain in the gut-brain area, Probi is cementing our status as pioneers also within this growing new health area for probiotics. The new data obtained in older adults follows a previous study, published in 2023, in which the HEAL9 strain was shown to support and improve cognitive performance, as well as memory, mood and sleep in adults at the age of 21-52 years. Supporting cognitive functions and healthy aging is relevant for everyone who wants to live healthier lives for a longer time, and we are confident that our Probi Sensia concept is relevant for many age groups seeking to lay the foundation for better health later in life” says Anita Johansen, CEO Probi AB.
The study “Probiotic-Reduced Inflammaging in Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial” was published in the journal Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins (June 2024) and can be found here: LINK .
1 Nations U (2020) World population ageing 2019 (st/esa/ser. a/444). Department of Economic and Social Affairs PD, editor New York, USA 2020
