ABSTRACT

The effects of Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1 as a psychobiotic during the Bulgarian Antarctic Expeditions & on post-COVID syndrome

Maria Peneva¹, Rositsa Nedeva², Nadezhda Vladimirova², Boyan Mednikarov², Petko Ginev³, Maria Yakova³, Miglena Angelova¹, Georgy Alexandrov¹, Anna Petkova⁴, Ioannis Misopoulos⁵, Marieta Georgieva⁶

¹MC Evrozdrave-Bulgaria Ltd, Sofia, e-mail: daflorn@abv.bg

²Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, Varna, e-mail: info@naval-acad.bg

³MMA Sofia, Sofia, e-mail: vma@vma.bg

⁴UHAT St. Anna, Sofia, e-mail: a.petkova9201@gmail.com

⁵ Mika Nutri-Pharma International, Thessaloniki, e-mail: arial_white@yahoo.com

⁶ Medical University Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov, Varna, e-mail: marieta_md@yahoo.com

Psychobiotics are live bacteria that, by improving gut microbiome, benefit host’s mental health.

Study aim is to establish effect of probiotic formula with Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1 on mental well-being of both Research Vessel 421 crew during the Bulgarian Antarctic Expeditions and of post-COVID syndrome patients.

Maritime profession puts the crew under high stress. During the two Antarctic expeditions 2022-2024 the crews (25-28 individuals) are divided into two groups – taking and not taking probiotic. Research methods include measuring anxiety and depression by Zung questionnaires and survey to assess sleep quality.

Individuals, taking probiotic, show no statistically significant differences in anxiety and depression levels before and after voyage. They maintain sleep quality under the extreme conditions of expeditions. Individuals, not taking probiotic, show a significant increase in anxiety and depression symptoms which correlatively worsened their sleep. Probiotic used supports crew’s mental stability by protecting against depression, anxiety and improves sleep. Voyage of Research Vessel 421 to the Antarctic is model of studying the effects of psychobiotic Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1 on mental health of people under extreme stress.

After COVID epidemic, new nosological class was formed – post-COVID syndrome, which is expressed not only with somatic disorders, but also with various deprivations in human psyche – sleep and social adaptation disorders and high levels of anxiety. For the period 2022-2024, 98 post-COVID syndrome patients, including 15 women with children up to 2,5 years, were examined by using applied practical psychology methods (analytical, dynamic, ecopsychological, situational, systemic). Clinical observation shows that application of nutritional therapy with probiotic formula containing Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1 and psychological consultations leads to behavior stabilization, control of emotional reactions, improvement in social adaptation and sleep quality.

By improving gut-brain axis, this probiotic formula with Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1, is effective psychobiotic both in people under extreme stress and in post-COVID syndrome patients.

Key words: Antarctic, Naval Academy, Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1, probiotic, depression, stress, post-COVID syndrome, psychobiotic

The team of LAKTERA got a new PATENT for the strain of water origin Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1 as a PSYCHOBIOTIC. The products LAKTERA decrease depression, anxiety and improve physiological sleep under stress.

Results of a clinical trial of Lactobacillus Bulgaricus DWT1 in patients with COVID-19 presented at the 16th International Scientific Conference on Probiotics, Prebiotics, Gut Microbiota and Health – IPC2023, June 20-22, 2023 in Bratislava, Slovakia

You can see the entire presentation below the abstract

Abstract

Application of Probiotic Formula, Containing Lactobacillus Bulgaricus DWT1 in Patients with COVID-19

Mariya Peneva^a1, Ioannis Misopoulos^b,Evgenia Barzashka^c1, Tsvetan Lukanov^c2, Tsetsa Doichinova^c3, Anna Petkova^d, Marieta Georgieva^e, Georgy Aleksandrov^a2, Pencho Tonchev^c4

• a – Medical Center “Eurozdrave-Bulgaria”, 7 Rusaliisky prohod str., Sofia, Bulgaria
• b – Mika Nutri-Pharma Ltd., 18 Samuil str., Petrich, Bulgaria
• c – University Hospital Pleven “Dr. Georgy Stranski”, 8a Georgy Kochev blvd., Pleven, Bulgaria
• d – University General Hospital for Active Treatment St. Anna Sofia, 1 Dimitar Mollov str., Sofia, Bulgaria
• e – Medical University of Varna “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov”, 55 Marin Drinov str., Varna, Bulgaria

COVID-19 pandemic affected the world and claimed over 6 million victims. That’s why this clinical study shows significant information. Aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of probiotic formula, containing Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1, Streptococcus thermophilus DWT4, on cellular immunity in COVID-19 patients.

PCR tests, paraclinical blood tests, biochemical and immunological tests, X-ray, lung CT and medical consultations were performed. Statistics is done by IBM SPSS 23version.

The study is prospective, cohort, randomized, open-label. The subject are 78 inpatients treated for COVID-19 in 2020 randomly divided into two groups: group A – 47 patients taking probiotic, containing Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1 at daily dose 15-45g as part of complex therapy for COVID-19; group B – 31 patients receiving only standard therapy. Statistically the two groups didn`t differ in gender, age, incidence, type of concomitant diseases. Treatment in all cases included infusions, vitamins, antipyretics, corticosteroids, anticoagulants, H2-blockers, combination of antibiotics, oxygen. Treatment of group A patients included additional nutritional therapy with probiotic, containing Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1. Comparison of cellular immunity activity results in both groups showed statistically significant increase in NK-cells values, increase in cytotoxic T-lymphocytes marker and decrease/ normalization of T-helpers marker in group A patients. T-helpers produce cytokines which at high levels cause cytokine storm and death. Deaths in group B were patients admitted with high T-helpers, which increased extremely until the fatal outcome. Elevated T-helper levels in two patients from group A got normal during treatment. Hospital stay of group A patients is 4 days shorter compared to group B. Mortality in group A is 0%, in group B – 9,68%. In 2021, we conducted clinical observation of 8 pregnant women aged 25-38 years at 33-36 weeks of gestation, hospitalized for COVID-19. Lung CT showed pneumonia in all women. Treatment options during pregnancy are limited as many of medications for COVID-19 are contraindicated in pregnancy. All patients were treated with combination of two antibiotics and oxygen. Daily dose of anticoagulants depended on D-dimer values. All patients received probiotic formula, containing Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1 at daily dose of 30g, vitamins, pregnancy supplements. Only one patient received a small dose of corticosteroid for two days to improve fetal maturity. The general condition and paraclinical parameters of all improved on the 3^rd-4^th day. Inpatient treatment lasted up to 28 days. Delivery was performed by sectio caesarea. Women delivered live newborns with smooth uncomplicated postoperative period. Newborns are healthy, in good general condition with negative PCR tests.

The probiotic, containing Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1, modulates cellular immunity in COVID-19 patients – increases populations of NK-cells and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes and regulates T-helpers. Administration of this probiotic reduces COVID-19 death rate, shortens hospital stay and reduces the burden on healthcare system. This probiotic included in therapy successfully controls viral infection in pregnant women who give birth without complications to healthy live newborns not infected with COVID-19. The clinical observation results and the probiotic formula are subject of Bulgarian Patent №4294U and open new perspectives for application of Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1 as probiotic immunotherapy.

KEY WORDS:

Immunity; Lactobacillus Bulgaricus DWT1; Pregnancy; Probiotic; SARS-CoV-2

Scientific research of Laktera continues! Laktera is included in the only project in the field of medicine out of a total of 9 scientific projects that will be implemented during the 31st National Antarctic Expedition, led by Prof. Christo Pimpirev.

The probiotic foods Laktera have also been used under extreme conditions in the past. In the 1990s, with the permission of the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, a study was carried out by a team from the Military Medical Academy, led by Prof. Alexandrov, among 56 Air Force pilots. Probiotic food, containing L. bulgaricus has been found to reduce total cholesterol and bad cholesterol, reduce triglycerides and increase good cholesterol, regulate blood sugar and humoral immunity. In 1996, a team from MMA, Sofia Medical University and Würzburg Medical University in Germany, under the leadership of Prof. Alexandrov, conducted a study of the effects of a probiotic food with L. Bulgaricus in the conditions of a simulated shipwreck near Shabla with 56 volunteers divided into two groups. The following beneficial effects were found in the volunteers who took the probiotic food – maintaining the body weight, arm muscle strength, maintaining the electrolyte balance and blood sugar levels. The probiotics Laktera have been used by the Bulgarian Army during the missions in Cambodia and Iraq.

On December 27, 2022, Laktera set sail for Antarctica. During the voyage, the members of the crew of the first Bulgarian vessel RV 421 Ss. Cyril and Methodius will take Laktera daily to study the effect of Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1 of water origin on the human health in these extreme conditions. The duration of the voyage is about 150 days.

The project studying the effects of Laktera is carried out by Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy together with MU “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov„ and SU „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“. The topic of the project is „Study of the immunostimulating and protective effect of the probiotic foods, containing Lactobacillus bulgaricus in extreme stress situations during the upcoming trip, stay and return of our expedition to Antarctica on the Livingston Island“. The main objectives of the project are:

• To find out the therapeutic potential of Bulgarian probiotics, containing Lactobacillus bulgaricus for increasing the functional capabilities and the immune status of the body in volunteers, subjected to stress.
• To establish the potential of the probiotic food to serve as a protective factor or a kind of biological antidote in people placed in the conditions of an extreme physical and mental state.

The subject of the study – 20 sailors on the board of the vessel of Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy. They are divided into two groups of 10 people. The first group will take probiotic food Laktera at a dose of 15 g per day during the entire voyage and stay in Antarctica. The second group will not take Laktera.

All the participants in the research project will be tested for various biometrics: heart rate, breathing rate, blood oxygen, electrocardiogram, blood pressure, glycose levels, lipids, immune status, weight, bone mass, body fat, muscle mass, body fluids, body temperature, etc.

Also, the state of anxiety, depression and emotions, sleep quality and “burn out” syndrome will be examined by various psychological tests.

This project is expected to establish the effect of the probiotics Laktera on the human body for stimulating and maintaining the vital indicators when the body is subjected to extreme impact and stress. It is also expected to prove the efficacy of the Bulgarian probiotics, containing the first in the world strain of water origin Lactobacillus bulgaricus DWT1 under stress and social isolation.

Kosher certificate

The probiotics from Laktera family now have two types of Kosher Certificate – dairy and parve!

Certificate for ISO 22 000-2018 and GMP

For another year our company “Daflorn” – producer of the first probiotic of water origin in the world – successfully passed the audit by MG Global and received the highest level of international certification for food – ISO 22 000-2018 and GMP!

This Certificate is a guarantee for reliability and responsibility to all our partners and clients. Certification would not be possible without our new modern production facility, meeting all global requirements for food safety.

We will continue to create Laktera probiotics in our new home with care for your health and comfort!

Halal certificate

The probiotics from the Laktera family already have Halal Certificate issued by the Grand Mufti of the Muslim Denomination in Bulgaria!
Muslims are concerned whether the food they eat meets the Islamic religious tenets and traditions, humanitarian requirements, hygiene criteria and production methods. Halal certification is not just a marketing model for foods and food supplements, but proof that they are high quality and healthy. The Halal Certificate of Laktera family probiotics is valid all over the world.