The study to investigate the potential benefits of probiotics in yogurt, a patient-oriented, double-blind, cluster-randomised, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
Probiotic functional foods are widely advertised to consumers primarily based on probiotic supplements.


OBJECTIVE
Determine if consumption of yogurt containing a high dose of probiotics improves health in children ages 1-3 years attending daycare/school centers.


METHODS
Double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, allocation concealment clinical trial.


METHODS
Outpatient participants in the Washington, DC area.


METHODS
182 healthy children between the age of 1 and 3 years attending daycare/school at least 3 days a week.


METHODS
Active was a strawberry yogurt-based drink supplemented with Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis (B. lactis) BB-12. The placebo was indistinguishable from the active drink, differing only in absence of the probiotic BB-12. Primary objective was to determine if consumption of a probiotic-containing yogurt-based drink decreases absences due to illnesses from daycare for children ages 1-3 years. Secondary was to determine if probiotic-containing yogurt-based drink improves overall parental satisfaction due to decreased absences from work and an overall healthier child.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the days of missed school per group, with 51.9% in the active group and 47.1% in the placebo group missing at least 1 day of school throughout the study. Additionally, there were no differences in any secondary outcomes among the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Consumption of a yogurt-based drink delivering 10(10) CFU of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis (B. lactis) BB-12 per day did not decrease the number of days missed of school due to an illness. Additional independent research on the potential of BB-12 to reduce illness in children needs to be conducted.
Merenstein
D J
DJ
Department of Family Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA. djm23@georgetown.edu
Smith
K H
KH
Scriven
M
M
Roberts
R F
RF
Sanders
M E
ME
Petterson
S
S
D001644:Bifidobacterium; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004219:District of Columbia; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011322:Primary Prevention; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012016:Reference Values; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015014:Yogurt / Q000382:microbiology*