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Probiotic Effects on Cold and Influenza-Like Symptom Incidence and Duration in Children
Published online July 27, 2009
PEDIATRICS Vol. 124 No. 2 August 2009, pp. e172-e179 (doi:10.1542/peds.2008-2666
Abstract
Probiotic Effects on Cold and Influenza-Like Symptom Incidence and Duration in Children
<nobr>Gregory J. Leyer, PhD<sup>a</sup></nobr>, <nobr>Shuguang Li, MS<sup>b</sup></nobr>, <nobr>Mohamed E. Mubasher, PhD<sup>c</sup></nobr>, <nobr>Cheryl Reifer, PhD<sup>d</sup></nobr> and <nobr>Arthur C. Ouwehand, PhD<sup>e</sup></nobr>
<sup>a</sup> Department of Research and Development, Danisco, Madison, Wisconsin
<sup>b</sup> Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical College of Tongji University, Shanghai, China
<sup>c</sup> Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Texas at Houston, Dallas Regional Campus, Dallas, Texas
<sup>d</sup> Department of Scientific Affairs, SPRIM USA, Frisco, Texas
<sup>e</sup> Department of Research and Development, Danisco, Kantvik, Finland
<!-- ABS --> OBJECTIVE: Probiotic consumption effects on cold and influenza-like<sup> </sup>symptom incidence and duration were evaluated in healthy children<sup> </sup>during the winter season.<sup> </sup>
METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 326<sup> </sup>eligible children (3?5 years of age) were assigned randomly<sup> </sup>to receive placebo (N = 104), Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM<sup> </sup>(N = 110), or L acidophilus NCFM in combination with Bifidobacterium<sup> </sup>animalis subsp lactis Bi-07 (N = 112). Children were treated<sup> </sup>twice daily for 6 months.<sup> </sup>
RESULTS: Relative to the placebo group, single and combination<sup> </sup>probiotics reduced fever incidence by 53.0% (P = .0085) and<sup> </sup>72.7% (P = .0009), coughing incidence by 41.4% (P = .027) and<sup> </sup>62.1% (P = .005), and rhinorrhea incidence by 28.2% (P = .68)<sup> </sup>and 58.8% (P = .03), respectively. Fever, coughing, and rhinorrhea<sup> </sup>duration was decreased significantly, relative to placebo, by<sup> </sup>32% (single strain; P = .0023) and 48% (strain combination;<sup> </sup>P < .001). Antibiotic use incidence was reduced, relative<sup> </sup>to placebo, by 68.4% (single strain; P = .0002) and 84.2% (strain<sup> </sup>combination; P < .0001). Subjects receiving probiotic products<sup> </sup>had significant reductions in days absent from group child care,<sup> </sup>by 31.8% (single strain; P = .002) and 27.7% (strain combination;<sup> </sup>P < .001), compared with subjects receiving placebo treatment.<sup> </sup>
CONCLUSION: Daily dietary probiotic supplementation for 6 months<sup> </sup>was a safe effective way to reduce fever, rhinorrhea, and cough<sup> </sup>incidence and duration and antibiotic prescription incidence,<sup> </sup>as well as the number of missed school days attributable to<sup> </sup>illness, for children 3 to 5 years of age.<sup> </sup>
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Key Words: Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM ? Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis Bi-07 ? antibiotic usage ? upper respiratory infections ? colds ? influenza ? probiotics
Abbreviations: CFU?colony-forming unit ? OR?odds ratio
