title: Randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled study using new probiotic lactobacilli for strengthening the body immune defence against viral infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate whether consumption of Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL 9 (DSM 15312) and Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 (DSM 13434) could affect naturally acquired common cold infections in healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomised, parallel, double-blind placebo-controlled study was performed to investigate whether intake of this probiotic mixture could reduce the risk of common cold episodes, number of days with common cold symptoms, frequency and severity of symptoms, and cellular immune response in common cold infections. A total of 272 subjects were supplemented daily with either 10(9) cfu (colony forming units) of probiotics (N = 135) or control (N = 137) for a 12-week period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of acquiring one or more common cold episode was reduced from 67% in the control group to 55% in the probiotic group (p < 0.05). Also, the number of days with common cold symptoms were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced from 8.6 days in the control group to 6.2 days, in the probiotic group, during the 12-week period. The total symptom score was reduced during the study period from a mean of 44.4 for the control group to 33.6 for the probiotic group. The reduction in pharyngeal symptoms was significant (p < 0.05). In addition, the proliferation of B lymphocytes was significantly counteracted in the probiotic group (p < 0.05) in comparison with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, intake of the probiotic strains Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL 9 (DSM 15312) and Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 (DSM 13434) reduces the risk of acquiring common cold infections.
authors.affiliation: Probi AB, Ideon, Gamma 1, 223 70, Lund, Sweden. anna.berggren@probi.se
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berggren
authors.forename: Irini
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lazou Ahrén
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Önning
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003139:Common Cold / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
references.citation: JAMA. 1998 Jun 24;279(24):1962-7
references.pmid: 9643859
references.citation: PLoS One. 2010 Feb 02;5(2):e9009
references.pmid: 20126401
references.citation: Pediatrics. 2009 Aug;124(2):e172-9
references.pmid: 19651563
references.citation: Lancet. 2003 Jan 4;361(9351):51-9
references.pmid: 12517470
references.citation: Environ Health. 2005 Nov 07;4:25
references.pmid: 16274475
references.citation: Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2007;142(1):1-10
references.pmid: 17016053
references.citation: J Appl Microbiol. 2008 Feb;104(2):305-44
references.pmid: 18215222
references.citation: Arch Intern Med. 2003 Feb 24;163(4):487-94
references.pmid: 12588210
references.citation: Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2005 Jul;43(7):318-26
references.pmid: 16035374
references.citation: Clin Nutr. 2005 Aug;24(4):481-91
references.pmid: 16054520
references.citation: J Appl Microbiol. 1998 Jul;85(1):88-94
references.pmid: 9721659
references.citation: Vaccine. 2006 Nov 10;24(44-46):6670-4
references.pmid: 16844267
references.citation: BMJ. 2001 Jun 2;322(7298):1327
references.pmid: 11387176
references.citation: Appl Environ Microbiol. 2006 Apr;72(4):2359-65
references.pmid: 16597930
references.citation: J Clin Gastroenterol. 2008 Sep;42 Suppl 3 Pt 2:S224-33
references.pmid: 18685511