Effects of enteric-coated lactoferrin supplementation on the immune function of elderly individuals: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed to investigate the effects of enteric-coated lactoferrin (LF) supplementation on the immune function of healthy, elderly individuals. Sixty-two healthy men and women were randomly divided into LF (300 mg of bovine LF intake per day) and placebo groups, who consumed the assigned supplements once daily for 3 months. The blood cell count, peripheral blood lymphocyte subset ratios, neutrophil phagocytic function, natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, and serum granulysin and lysozyme concentrations were measured every month. By the third month of treatment, significant inter-group differences were observed in peripheral blood lymphocyte subset ratios, neutrophil phagocytic function, and NK cell cytotoxicity. Our findings suggest that immune competent cells of the innate immune system in elderly individuals are specifically activated by LF intake; therefore, enteric LF supplementation may have beneficial effects on immune function in elderly individuals.