title: A randomized prospective double blind controlled trial on effects of long-term consumption of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei in pre-school children with allergic asthma and/or rhinitis.
abstract: To examine whether long-term consumption of fermented milk containing a specific Lactobacillus casei may improve the health status of preschool children suffering from allergic asthma and/or rhinitis a randomized, prospective, double blind, controlled trial was conducted in 187 children 2-5 y of age. The children received for 12 mo either fermented milk (100 mL) containing Lactobacillus casei (10(8) cfu/mL) or placebo. The time free from and the number of episodes of asthma/rhinitis after starting intervention were the outcome measures. The number of fever or diarrhea episodes and the change in serum immunoglobulin were further assessed. No statistical difference between intervention and control group occurred in asthmatic children. In children with rhinitis, the annual number of rhinitis episodes was lower in the intervention group, mean difference (95% CI), -1.6 (-3.15 to -0.05); the mean duration of an episode of diarrhea was lower in the intervention group, mean difference -0.81 (-1.52 to -0.10) days. While long-term consumption of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei may improve the health status of children with allergic rhinitis no effect was found in asthmatic children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, Via A di Rudinì 8, I-20142 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giovannini
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agostoni
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salvini
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruscitto
authors.forename: Gian Vincenzo
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Zuccotti
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Radaelli
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D007558:Italy; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D019936:Probiotics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015014:Yogurt / Q000382:microbiology*