Study to investigate the potential of probiotics in children attending school
2011
Merenstein, D. | Gonzalez, J. | Young, A.G. | Roberts, R.F. | Sanders, M.E. | Petterson, S.
Background/Objectives: To determine if consumption of yogurt containing a high dose of probiotic (1 × 1010 colony-forming unit per 100 ml), Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (B. lactis), decreases absences in children 2-4 years attending daycare/school centers. Subjects/Methods: We conducted a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, allocation concealment clinical trial in the Washington, DC area. Our active intervention was a strawberry yogurt-based drink supplemented with B. lactis BB-12. The placebo was indistinguishable from the active drink, differing only in absence of the probiotic BB-12. Results: A total of 172 children between the ages of 2 and 4 from the Washington, DC area were enrolled. The primary outcome, missed days of school because of illness per 100 days, was similar in both the active (2.54 days absent/100 school days) and control groups (2.42 days absent/100 school days) (P=0.873). Conclusions: The probiotic-containing yogurt-based beverage studied did not decrease absences because of illnesses in daycare/school for healthy children ages 2-4 years.
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