Kirin Holdings’ LC-Plasma paraprobiotic reduces dengue fever symptoms in clinical trial

20 Sep 2021 --- Kirin Holdings’ heat-killed Lactococcus lactis strain (LC-Plasma) may significantly reduce the primary symptoms of dengue fever, a tropical disease for which there is no cure or vaccine. 

The recent joint clinical trial showed a significant reduction in the cumulative number of days of fever, muscle pain, joint pain and pain behind the eyes in study participants who took an LC-Plasma tablet daily for two months.

“LC-Plasma is positioned as a food ingredient, not a medicine,” Tatsuya Takada, assistant manager of corporate communications at Kirin Holdings, tells NutritionInsight. 

LC-Plasma is a functional food ingredient in Kirin Holdings’ range of Immuse immune-supporting ingredients.

The study was conducted by The Kirin Central Research Institute in collaboration with Professor Dr. Sazaly Abu Bakar, director of the Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC) at the University of Malaya. TIDREC is the WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus Reference and Research. 

Functionality via immunity 
Researchers attribute the positive results to LC-Plasma’s activation of “the antiviral immunity command center.” LC-Plasma affects the immune system by activating the body’s plasmacytoid dendritic cells, according to the company. 

Moreover, the ingredient has been shown to contribute to the prevention of a wide range of viral infections other than dengue fever. In both non-clinical and clinical trials, LC-Plasma was shown to reduce the incidence of influenza, affirms Kirin Holdings. 

Based on previous research outcomes, the joint research project tested the effects of LC-Plasma (approximately 100 billion cells) or a placebo for eight weeks on 100 hundred healthy adults. The study participants live in dengue infection cluster areas near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

LC-Plasma was associated with a significantly reduced cumulative number of days with dengue fever-like symptoms.

Foods as medicine
Kirin Holdings recently unveiled several food products containing LC-Plasma to target immunity demands in Japan, including two functional teas. 

LC-Plasma is positioned for a variety of foods within certain limitations. “It is difficult to formulate LC-Plasma into foods that have a manufacturing or cooking process that exposes them to high temperatures or strong acids that can alter the lactobacilli themselves,” says Takada. “Outside of that, it can be used as an additive in other foods.

Kirin Holdings discovered the function of the lactic acid bacteria Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM 5805, a strain stored at the Riken BioResource Research Center.

The public institution, which stores bacteria in a bank for research purposes, still retains ownership over the strain. 

Tropical diseases are expected to increase due to global warming, notes Kirin Holdings.Future-proofing ingredients 
Moving forward, Kirin Holdings and the University of Malaya will accelerate joint research aiming to verify the antiviral effects of LC-Plasma on tropical disease viruses other than the dengue virus.

“By conducting larger-scale studies, we aim to confirm the preventive effects on the main symptoms seen in dengue fever through a decrease in the number of test subjects suffering from them, as well as clarify the mechanism of action in humans,” adds Takada.

Future solutions to mitigate tropical infectious diseases will be important, notes Kirin Holdings, as global warming is expected to expand the presence of tropical diseases. 

In tandem, Kirin Holdings will make LC-Plasma more accessible to more people in Southeast Asia through alliances and business expansion, providing a solution to a significant social and global issue.

Antiviral solutions flourish
Ingredients that offer immune support or antiviral activity have seen increased interest since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Earlier this year, BioGaia identified a combination of probiotics that were found to help children recover faster from upper respiratory infections. 

In ingredients beyond paraprobiotics and probiotics, certain turmeric-metal complexes have been found to provide antiviral benefits. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) have also been studied for their role in preventing noroviruses due to their antiadhesive effect.

By Missy Green