Lallemand’s pediatric probiotics aid immunity and intestinal treatments, finds review

08 Jun 2021 --- Lallemand’s probiotic formula Probiokid can help improve the efficacy of treatments for a range of childhood maladies, including unresolved diarrhea and iron deficiency anemia. It can also enhance immune defenses and reduce instances of common infections. This is according to a comprehensive review of 28 clinical studies recently published online in Nutrients.

Probiokid is a probiotic blend combining Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52, Bifidobacterium infantis Rosell-33, Bifidobacterium bifidum Rosell-71 and fructooligosaccharides. First launched in 2003 in China, Lallemand says it has become the world’s best-selling pediatric probiotic formulation. 

Speaking to NutritionInsight, Lallemand Health Solutions’ marketing group manager Morgane Maillard explains that despite being a well-researched and established formula, many of the studies into Probiokid are in non-English journals. 

“Disseminating the results to the global scientific community has been challenging, so Lallemand Health Solutions undertook this comprehensive literature review, summarizing the clinical studies on this probiotic formulation published in North America, Europe and Asia.” 

Where possible, outcome-specific meta-analyses were also conducted on studies harboring similar design and outcome assessment methods to strengthen the conclusions and provide more specificity, she says. 

Future studies will look to determine Probiokids’ efficacy in aiding eczema and jaundice.Probiokid assessed in 28 trials
The review covers the effect of Probiokid on two central uses of probiotics: gut health and immune health. Twelve of the 28 trials investigated the safety and efficacy of the probiotic formulation in restoring normal gastrointestinal functions in cases of diarrhea of various etiologies. 

These studies show that Probiokid significantly increased the efficacy of standard diarrhea treatment regardless of etiology, reducing the risk of unresolved diarrhea by 69 percent. 

Eight of the studies looked into the formula’s efficacy in supporting immune system functions and natural defenses, six of which were by enhancing immune competencies. Two looked into reducing the occurrence or recurrence of common infections.

In addition, one study showed the correlation between the effects of the probiotic on serum IgA levels with the incidence of respiratory infections in frequently sick children. 

“We also found that Probiokid improved iron deficiency anemia treatment efficacy, with a meta-analysis showing that it reduced the risk of unresolved anemia by 49 percent and significantly reduced treatment side effects by 47 percent,” says Maillard. 

Future research and regulation
Maillard says the review analysis also uncovered various promising areas for future research.

“Probiokid has been studied in innovative health areas, setting the stage to further investigation. For example, some studies examined the role of this probiotic combination in infant eczema, oral candidiasis, nutritional iron deficiency anemia, necrotizing enterocolitis and hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice). 

Currently, the safety of the Probiokid strains is recognized by several authoritative bodies worldwide, where they are included in lists of acceptable strains for consumption in foods. 

The formula and its individual strains have also been recognized for their safety by US Food and Drug Administration in the form of a no-question letter for notified Generally Recognized as Safe status for use in non-exempt infant formula.  

In Canada, the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate approved it for use in Natural Health Products for infants aged three months and older. In China, it is approved for safe use in food for infants and young children. 

“The safety of this product is also monitored through a pharmacovigilance program covering both foreign and domestic adverse event cases,” says Maillard. 

By Louis Gore-Langton