Probiotics Support Immune Function

By CP Staff

In a recently published clinical trial, researchers evaluated the effect of probiotic supplementation on the occurrence of gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections in children who attended day care centers. Probiotics are “friendly” bacteria that are the normal, health-promoting flora in the gastrointestinal tract. They perform many important functions including preventing colonization by pathogenic bacteria, metabolizing foods and certain drugs, helping absorb nutrients, increasing the bioavailability of minerals and stabilizing the mucosal barrier, thereby decreasing intestinal permeability.

In this new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 281 children received either the probiotic Lactobacillus GG at a dose of 10(9) colony-forming units in 100 ml of a fermented milk product, or the fermented milk product alone for 3 months.

The results of the study showed that the children receiving the probiotic supplementation had a significantly decreased risk of upper respiratory tract infections compared to the children in the placebo group. Also, the children receiving the probiotic bacteria had a reduced risk of respiratory tract infections lasting longer than 3 days and had a significantly lower number of days with respiratory symptoms compared to the placebo group. However, there was not a decrease in lower respiratory tract infections or gastrointestinal infections.

The study authors concluded, “LGG administration can be recommended as a valid measure for decreasing the risk of upper respiratory tract infections in children attending day care centers.”

Reference:

Hojsak I, Snovak N, Abdovic S, Szajewska H, Mišak Z, Kolacek S. Lactobacillus GG in the prevention of gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections in children who attend day care centers: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Clin Nutr. 2009 Nov 4. Published Online Ahead of Print.

Lactobacillus GG is found in Culturelle^®.