title: Determining the effect of consuming fermented milk drinks on the incidence of constipation, diarrhoea and resistance to respiratory illness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  At present, there are many types of milk fermented drinks/beverages on the market that often contain added probiotic microflora. Numerous studies indicate that such products are frequently consumed by adolescents. Within this group, symptoms of respiratory illness feature prominently as well as various and frequent disorders of the gastro-intestinal system that give rise to either constipation or diarrhoea.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of consuming fermented milk drinks on the immune systems in teenagers aged 13-16 years through analysing their intakes in relation to how often respiratory illness, constipation and diarrhoea had occurred.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was performed on 150 middle-school pupils aged 13-16 years. Correlation coefficients were determined between the frequency of consuming fermented drinks with the incidences of respiratory disease, constipation or diarrhoea.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most subjects declared that their state of health was satisfactory and that they regularly ate meals. Those consuming fermented milk drinks for over a year constituted 88%. It was found that 56% of all subjects drank such beverages at least once daily or several times a week. The decrease observed in consuming these drinks resulted in increasing problems of bowel evacuation ranging from 3% in those drinking daily to 26% that drank less than once monthly. The incidence of respiratory tract illness was seen to rise whenever fewer fermented milk beverages were consumed. Analogous findings were seen also in the incidence of diarrhoea. Subjects also considered that such drinks improved health and yoghurts were the most frequent type of these drinks consumed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gastro-intestinal function may be enhanced by regular consumption of fermented milk drinks together with a decreased incidence of respiratory tract illness. However, the effect of how often such drinks are consumed on the aforementioned conditions remains unresolved.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Glibowski
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turczyn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D043302:Cultured Milk Products / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*