Probiotics, part 1
The scientific literature is swelling with reports on the ability of specific probiotic strains to influence the immune system and its response.
Supplements containing the friendly bugs have been reported to reduce the incidence of travelers’ diarrhea, reduce the incidence and severity of eczema, and reducing the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in a range of consumer groups, from students and athletes to kids in day care.
Recent studies have reported benefits across all age groups, from the very young to the old: Results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial by Italian researchers indicated that high-dose multi-strain probiotic supplementation to women during late pregnancy and lactation may reduce colic and regurgitation in the infants (Nutrients, 2016, 8(11), 677).
Immune support benefits for children were indicated by a study using a combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 and Bifidobacterium lactis UABLA-12. Using the commercial UP4 Junior formula from UAS Labs, the researchers reported that, while no reduction in the incidence of acute respiratory infection (ARI) was observed in the children, the probiotics were associated with milder infections and quicker recovery (European Journal of Clinical Nutrition).
For the elderly, a clinical trial using Lesaffre Human Care’s Bacillus subtilis CU1 probiotic found that, compared with a placebo, daily consumption of the probiotic supplement was associated with a 45% decrease in upper respiratory tract infections (Immunity & Ageing, 2015 12:24).
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