Safety of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103 (LGG) in Healthy Volunteers

This study is a single site, Phase I, masked, randomized study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of twice daily dosing of LGG (Lactobacillus GG ATCC 53103) in normal healthy adult volunteers. Study drug capsules (1x10\^10 LGG/capsule or placebo) will be taken by mouth twice a day with cow's milk or soy milk on an outpatient basis. Volunteers will have study visits at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 7 months, and 12 months where they will be asked about any medical problems that have come up since the last study visit, have vital signs taken, review current medication use, and review any signs of potential adverse events. Blood and urine samples will also be collected at these visits, as well as throat and stool samples.

Our goal is to assess the safety and tolerability of LGG when administered to healthy adult volunteers twice a day. Assessment of safety will be determined by vital sign measurements, physical examinations, clinical laboratory tests, and from the incidence and severity of adverse events that occur during study participation. Additionally, we will assess whether LGG colonizes the throat and/or gastrointestinal tract of healthy adult volunteers and assess the effect of LGG on the bacteria that normally live in the throat and GI tract by using culture-independent techniques. Volunteers enrolled in this study will also be invited to participate in a companion genetic study that will investigate the host immune response to the bacteria in LGG.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18-50 years, inclusive.
* Expressed interest and ability to fulfill the study requirements.
* Be in general good health as determined by a screening evaluation within 30 days of the first dose of LGG or placebo.
* Able to ingest the study drug (LGG or placebo) dissolved in a small amount of cow's milk or soy milk orally (no feeding tube).
* Willing to prevent pregnancy - Women must agree not to become pregnant or breastfeed from the time of study enrollment until at least 3 months after the last dose of study drug. If a woman is sexually active and has no history of hysterectomy or tubal ligation, she must agree to practice an acceptable method of birth control, such as hormonal or barrier birth control. A woman is eligible if she is monogamous with a vasectomized male. Sexually active male volunteers without vasectomy must agree to use a barrier method of contraception for 3 months after the last dose of study drug.
* Willing to comply with protocol and report on compliance and side effects during study period.
* Informed consent obtained and signed prior to screening.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Consumption of supplements or food products containing LGG or probiotics 30 days prior to the start of the study or consumption of yogurt that has "live and active cultures" seal.
* Known or suspected allergies to probiotics, Lactobacillus, microcrystalline cellulose, gelatin, or any antibiotic that may be used to treat LGG bacteremia or infection (Ampicillin, Clindamycin, Moxifloxacin).
* Received oral or parenteral antibiotics within 4 weeks of enrollment or prescribed antibiotics on day of enrollment.
* Drug or alcohol abuse within previous 12 months.
* Major surgery or endoscopy within last 3 months.
* Daily prescription or over-the-counter medicines except for vitamins, birth control products, and hormone replacement therapy.
* Presence of any of the following:

  * Abnormal vital signs or clinically significant physical findings such as murmur (other than functional), hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, lymphadenopathy, or focal neurological deficit
  * Indwelling catheter or implanted hardware/prosthetic device or feeding tube
  * Febrile illness (oral temperature \>37 degrees Celsius) or one or more episodes of diarrhea within 72 hours of baseline visit (first dose of study drug)
  * Active bowel leak, acute abdomen, colitis, or active GI disease or history of gastric or intestinal dysmotility, slowed transit time, variable small intestinal permeability, pancreatitis, or inflammatory bowel disease
  * History of Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infections, cirrhosis, or chronic liver disease
  * Underlying structural heart disease or previous history of endocarditis or valve replacement
  * Immunosuppression including HIV positive, solid organ or stem cell transplant recipient, receiving any oral or parenteral immunosuppressive therapy, neutrophil count \<500/mm\^3, or an anticipated drop in the neutrophil count to \<500/mm3
  * History of cancer
  * History of collagen vascular disease
  * Active TB
* Women only - pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant within the next 9 months, breastfeeding, positive urine pregnancy test during screening or within 24 hours of first dose of study drug, or unwilling to undergo pregnancy testing.
* Positive drug or alcohol testing at screening or within 24 hours of first dose of study drug, or unwilling to undergo drug and alcohol testing.
* Screening laboratory tests greater than upper normal limit (ULN) or less than lower normal limit (LLN):

  * White blood cell \<LLN or \>ULN
  * Platelets \<LLN
  * Hemoglobin \<LLN
  * Creatinine \>ULN
  * Blood urea nitrogen \>ULN
  * Aspartate aminotransferase \>ULN
  * Alanine aminotransferase \>ULN
  * Alkaline phosphatase \>ULN
  * Bilirubin \>ULN
  * Glucose (nonfasting ) \>109 mg/dL
* Any other condition that in the opinion of the investigator would jeopardize the safety or rights of the volunteer participating in the study or would make it unlikely the volunteer could complete the study.