in Children Probiotic Effects on Cold and Influenza-Like Symptom Incidence and Duration

abstract OBJECTIVE: Probiotic consumption effects on cold and influenza-likesymptom incidence and duration were evaluated in healthy childrenduring the winter season. METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 326 eligiblechildren(3–5yearsofage)wereassignedrandomlytoreceiveplacebo( N 104), Lactobacillusacidophilus NCFM( N 110),or Lacidophilus NCFMincombinationwith Bifidobacteriumanimalis subsp lactis Bi-07( N 112). Children were treated twice daily for 6 months. RESULTS: Relative to the placebo group, single and combination pro-biotics reduced fever incidence by 53.0% ( P .0085) and 72.7% ( P .0009), coughing incidence by 41.4% ( P .027) and 62.1% ( P .005),and rhinorrhea incidence by 28.2% ( P .68) and 58.8% ( P .03),respectively.Fever,coughing,andrhinorrheadurationwasdecreasedsignificantly,relativetoplacebo,by32%(singlestrain; P .0023)and48% (strain combination; P .001). Antibiotic use incidence was re-duced, relative to placebo, by 68.4% (single strain; P .0002) and84.2% (strain combination;

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