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Different effects of probiotic species/strains on infections in preschool children: A double-blind, randomized,

Jun-Song Lin1, Yi-Han Chiu, Nien-Tsung Lin

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan.

Vaccine
|December 31, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Probiotics like Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus show promise in preventing and treating pediatric infections. Specific strains effectively reduced respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses in young children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Infectious diseases pose a significant health burden in children.
  • Probiotics are increasingly explored for their potential role in pediatric health.
  • Evidence for specific probiotic strains in preventing pediatric infections requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of three commercial probiotic products in treating and preventing pediatric infectious diseases.
  • To assess the impact of specific probiotic strains on bacterial, viral, and respiratory infections.
  • To determine the effectiveness of a multi-species probiotic in reducing gastrointestinal disease.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial was conducted.
  • 1062 pediatric subjects under age 5 were randomly assigned to four groups.
  • The study evaluated the effects of specific probiotic interventions.

Main Results:

  • Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus demonstrated control over bacterial, viral, and respiratory infections.
  • A multi-species probiotic significantly reduced the incidence of gastrointestinal disease.
  • Long-term consumption of L. rhamnosus T cell-1 decreased the occurrence of bacterial infections.

Conclusions:

  • Specific probiotic strains, notably L. casei rhamnosus, offer therapeutic benefits for pediatric infectious diseases.
  • Multi-species probiotics are effective in managing pediatric gastrointestinal issues.
  • L. rhamnosus T cell-1 may play a role in reducing the frequency of bacterial infections in children.

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