title: Probiotic supplementation for respiratory and gastrointestinal illness symptoms in healthy physically active individuals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of supplementation with probiotics on respiratory and gastrointestinal illness in healthy active men and women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Four hundred and sixty five participants (241 males; age 35 ± 12 y (mean ± SD) and 224 females; age 36 ± 12 y) were assigned to one of three groups: Group 1 - Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bl-04 (Bl-04) 2.0 × 10(9)colony forming units per day, CFU per day, Group 2 - Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bi-07 (NCFM & Bi-07) 5 × 10(9) CFU each per day) or Group 3 - placebo mixed in a drink.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The risk of an upper respiratory illness episode was significantly lower in the Bl-04 group (hazard ratio 0.73; 95% confidence interval 0.55-0.95; P = 0.022) compared to placebo. There was no significant difference in illness risk between the NCFM & Bi-07 group (hazard ratio 0.81; 0.62-1.08; P = 0.15) and the placebo group. There was a 0.7 and 0.9 month delay in the median time to an illness episode in the Bl-04 and NCFM & Bi-07 groups respectively compared to placebo (placebo 2.5 months; Bl-04 3.2 months; NCFM & Bi-07 3.4 months). There were insufficient GI illness episodes for analysis. The NCFM & Bi-07 group but not the Bl-04 group undertook significantly more physical activity (8.5%; 6.7%-10%; P < 0.003) than the placebo group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The probiotic Bl-04 appears to be a useful nutritional supplement in reducing the risk of URTI in healthy physically-active adults.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: Number ACTRN12611000130965.
authors.affiliation: Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, QLD 4215, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: West
authors.affiliation: Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia.
authors.forename: Peggy L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.affiliation: Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, QLD 4215, Australia; Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia; Medical School, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Pyne
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, NSW 1450, Australia.
authors.forename: Val J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Gebski
authors.affiliation: DuPont Nutrition & Health, Danisco Sweeteners Oy, Health & Nutrition, Sokeritehtaantie 20, 02460 Kantvik, Finland.
authors.forename: Sampo J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lahtinen
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fricker
authors.affiliation: Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, QLD 4215, Australia. Electronic address: allan.cripps@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: Allan W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Cripps
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009520:New Zealand; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bifidobacterium animalis Subsp. lactis Bi-07; Bifidobacterium animalis Subsp. lactis Bl-04; Healthy adults; Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM; Probiotics; Respiratory illness