The influence of exogenous lactoferrin on plasma levels of acute phase proteins in a dry immersion experiment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33910/2687-1270-2026-7-1-121-133Keywords:
dry immersion, weightlessness, human, lactoferrin, acute phase reactantsAbstract
Lactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional protein with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. It is used as a food additive and as a food ingredient to extend shelf life. LF synthesis is localized in epithelial tissues and innate immune cells. In neutrophils, lactoferrin is concentrated in secondary granules, which release their contents upon neutrophil activation. Extreme conditions can induce adaptive changes affecting the innate immune system, which responds by activating inflammatory mechanisms. One such adaptive process is the acute phase response (APR). In a dry immersion experiment simulating the effects of weightlessness on the body, the influence of LF supplementation on APR development was studied. A five-day immersion study was conducted on 21 female subjects divided into three groups. Subjects in the LF1 and LF2 groups received LF daily at doses of 200 mg and 400 mg, respectively, while the placebo group received no LF. Concentrations of the acute phase proteins haptoglobin (Hp), α1-acid glycoprotein (α1-AGP), and α1-antitrypsin (α-AT) were measured in blood plasma. The effect of lactoferrin was most pronounced at the beginning of immersion period. LF at a dose of 200 mg/day stimulated plasma protein synthesis on the first day of the experiment. At a dose of 400 mg/day, most subjects showed a decrease in α-AT concentrations, which may be attributable to neutrophil degranulation and the release of excess amounts of elastase into the bloodstream. The results indicate that lactoferrin administered as a dietary supplement during immersion influences the balance of plasma proteins in a dose-dependent manner.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Olga N. Larina, Anna M. Bekker, Galina Yu. Vasilieva, Irina V. Kovachevich, Andrey M. Nosovsky, Elena R. Sadchikova
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