Summary of Research on Pediococcus acidilactici PA53
Key Findings:
- An eight-week supplementation of Pediococcus acidilactici PA53 resulted in lower markers of inflammation (IL-6 and TNF-alpha).
- PA53 is noted for enhancing digestive function and modulating inflammation pathways among older adults.
- Preliminary findings indicated potential positive influences on mood and sleep, though not all psychological measures were statistically significant.
Details on PA53:
- Developed by China’s Wecare Probiotics, this strain underwent extensive preclinical testing before the human trial.
- Wecare supplied the PA53 and placebo but did not fund or control the study.
Study Overview:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 75 healthy participants aged 55-70 (average age 54.4).
- Results for 69 participants showed:
- 13% increase in happiness
- 9.5% reduction in gastrointestinal symptoms
- 28% improvement in stool consistency
- 23% improvement in sleep quality
- Pro-inflammatory cytokines decreased while the anti-inflammatory IL-25 increased, which is associated with intestinal mucosal repair.
Microbiota Composition Changes:
- Beneficial bacteria increased significantly:
- Ruminococcus: from 1.1% to 2.2%
- Blautia: from 7.6% to 11.4%
- Faecalibacterium: from 6.9% to 10.6%
Conclusion:
- The study suggests PA53 may serve as a beneficial probiotic intervention for improving wellbeing and gut health in older adults, warranting larger and longer-term studies for more conclusive evidence.
Source:
- The Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 156, Issue 8, 101626. DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101626
