title: Probiotics and vitamin C for the prevention of respiratory tract infections in children attending preschool: a randomised controlled pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This pilot study investigates the efficacy of a probiotic consortium (Lab4) in combination with vitamin C on the prevention of respiratory tract infections in children attending preschool facilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled pilot study with children aged 3-6 years, 57 received 1.25 × 10(10) colony-forming units of Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL21 (NCIMB 30156), Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL60 (NCIMB 30157), Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL20 (NCIMB 30153) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CUL34 (NCIMB 30172) plus 50 mg vitamin C or a placebo daily for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant reductions in the incidence rate of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI; 33%, P=0.002), the number of days with URTI symptoms (mean difference: -21.0, 95% confidence interval (CI):-35.9, -6.0, P=0.006) and the incidence rate of absence from preschool (30%, P=0.007) were observed in the active group compared with the placebo. The number of days of use of antibiotics, painkillers, cough medicine or nasal sprays was lower in the active group and reached significance for use of cough medicine (mean difference: -6.6, 95% CI: -12.9, -0.3, P=0.040). No significant differences were observed in the incidence rate ratio or duration of lower respiratory tract infection or in the levels of plasma cytokines, salivary immunoglobulin A or urinary metabolites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation with a probiotic/vitamin C combination may be beneficial in the prevention and management of URTIs.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Department, Cultech Ltd, Port Talbot, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garaiova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muchová
authors.affiliation: Juvenalia Paediatric Centre, Dunajská Streda, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nagyová
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 1] Divison of Computational and Systems Medicine, Department of Surgery, Imperial College, London, UK [2] Cancer, Faculty of Medicine and Centre for Digestive and Gut Health, Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College, London, UK.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Országhová
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Department, Cultech Ltd, Port Talbot, UK.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Department, Cultech Ltd, Port Talbot, UK.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Plummer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ďuračková
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003371:Cough / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012574:Schools; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000996:Antitussive Agents; D014815:Vitamins; D001205:Ascorbic Acid