Scientist - News - 04-09-2009:

Probiotics strongly reduce flu symptoms in children
Beintema, Nienke

According to a recent international study, a combination of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium is highly effective in reducing influenza-like symptoms in children.

The flu season is approaching in the northern hemisphere, and attention is particularly focused due to the current threat of the novel H1N1 influenza. Researchers are keen on finding mechanisms to reduce the severity of influenza-like symptoms.
A recent study carried out by researchers in the US, China and Finland shows that probiotics might be of help, at least in the case of the common winter flu. Their research aimed to find out whether certain probiotics could reduce both the incidence and duration of flu symptoms in healthy children during the winter. The study appeared in the August issue of the journal Pediatrics.

Effective prevention
The study, led by Gregory Leyer of Danisco in Wisconsin (US), was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 326 children between three and five years of age. The children were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo, a Lactobacillus acidophilus (NCFM) preparation, or L. acidophilus in combination with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (Bi-07). The children received their supplements twice daily during a period of six months.
Compared to the placebo, the probiotics caused a significant reduction in fever incidence: 53.0% in the case of the single probiotic and 72.7% for the combination. Coughing incidence was reduced by 41.4% and 62.1%, respectively, and rhinorrhea (runny nose) by 28.2% and 58.8%. Fever, coughing, and rhinorrhea duration was decreased significantly by 32% and 48%. Moreover, the probiotics groups used significantly less antibiotics: their prescription was reduced by 68.4% and 84.2%, respectively. Finally, the probiotic group had to be skip fewer days in daycare due to illness: 31.8% and 27.7%, respectively, compared with the placebo group. In their conclusion, the researchers recommend that probiotics be used as a standard flu prevention in children during the winter season. They suggest that other probiotics, or other combinations, may prove to be helpful as well in this regard.

More information:
Article in Pediatrics