Probiotic effects on cold and influenza symptoms

An international group of researchers report that taking a dietary probiotic for 6 months reduced the signs and symptoms of colds, and prescription drug use in children.

First, the details.

• 326 children (3 to 5 years of age) were randomly assigned to treatment group.
  • Placebo
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM
  • L. acidophilus NCFM + Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis Bi-07.
• The children were treated twice daily for 6 months during the winter.
• Neither the children nor researchers knew the treatment given — double blind.

And, the results compared to placebo.

• Significantly reduced incidence of fever by 53% and 73%, coughing by 41% and 62%, and runny nose by 28% and 59% with single and combined probiotics, respectively.
• Significantly decreased duration of fever, coughing, and runny nose by 32% and 48%, with single and combined probiotics, respectively.
• Antibiotic use significantly decreased by 68% and 84% with single and combined probiotics, respectively.
• Children taking probiotics had significant 32% and 28% reductions in days absent from group childcare with single and combined probiotics, respectively.

The bottom line?
The authors concluded, “Daily dietary probiotic supplementation for 6 months was a safe effective way to reduce fever, rhinorrhea, and cough incidence and duration and antibiotic prescription incidence, as well as the number of missed school days attributable to illness, for children 3 to 5 years of age.”

An article on NutraIngredients.com discusses the potential mechanism of action of probiotics when used for this purpose.

Caution related to the use of probiotics is discussed here.

8/2/09 19:30 JR