Cognitive Improvement Effects of Patented Probiotic 'CBT-LR5'
Published in SCI-Level Academic Journal
Cell Biotech announced on the 16th that it has proven the potential of the patented probiotic strain 'CBT-LR5 (KCTC 12202BP)', used in Duolac's major products, to improve mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly.
Cell Biotech has demonstrated the potential of the patented probiotic strain 'CBT-LR5 (KCTC 12202BP)', used in Duolac's main products, to improve mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly. Cell Biotech
The research results were published in the prestigious SCI-level international journal in the field of nutrition, Nutrients (IF: 4.8), and announced the possibility of developing alternative treatments for MCI, which is a pre-dementia stage, both domestically and internationally. The study is also evaluated as providing new scientific evidence supporting the 'Gut-Brain Axis' theory, which suggests that gut health can influence brain health.
The number of dementia patients aged 65 and older in Korea reached 1.05 million as of 2024 and is expected to increase to 2.26 million by 2040. MCI is an intermediate stage between dementia and normal aging, with many cases potentially progressing to Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. However, current treatments mainly focus on drug therapy, which raises concerns about cost burden and side effects. In response, Cell Biotech aimed for a cognitive improvement approach based on functional probiotics with fewer side effects and high safety, developing a 'complex probiotic (MH-Pro)' by mixing the 'CBT-LR5' strain with skim milk powder and conducting clinical trials.
The clinical trial was conducted jointly with Jeonbuk National University Hospital. It was a 12-week randomized, double-blind study involving 20 suspected MCI subjects with an average age of 68.9 years. The overall cognitive improvement effect of 'CBT-LR5' was analyzed through comparative analysis between groups with different intake doses of the same product.
As a result, the total score of the Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K) increased by 18.9% compared to before intake (p=0.004), confirming a significant cognitive improvement effect. Notably, score improvements were clearly observed in multiple cognitive domains, including ▲visuospatial ability ▲delayed recall ability ▲naming memory. No adverse reactions were observed in any participant, and a high medication adherence rate of over 97% was demonstrated, proving both safety and practicality.
Analysis of the gut microbiome showed an increase in beneficial bacteria after intake of MH-Pro. This demonstrated a close correlation with MoCA-K scores, confirming that the gut environment can influence cognitive function. Accordingly, some analyses suggest that this study presents the possibility that probiotic-based 'Gut-Brain Axis' modulation strategies could be a practical approach to improving cognitive function in the elderly.
A Cell Biotech official stated, "This paper proves that our company's 30 years of accumulated strain development capabilities can provide a practical solution to the public health issue of cognitive improvement in the elderly," adding, "CBT-LR5 has great potential to grow as a next-generation cognitive health functional material that can be used for managing the pre-dementia stage in the future."
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