Probiotic Shown to Reduce Cold and Flu Symptoms in Children

The duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms were significantly reduced in the children receiving the probiotics. Because of their enhanced natural defenses, these children had less need for prescription antibiotics and missed fewer days of childcare.

29 Jul 2009 In today’s health environment, harmful cold and flu strains can travel the globe and pose serious risk to young children. And, at the same time, the FDA has issued warnings about administering over-the-counter cough and cold medications to children under the age of four. Parents of young children are in a quandary as to how to keep their kids safe and healthy. Many are embracing preventative measures to improve their child’s immune system and ward off illness.

HOWARU Protect, a probiotic formulation from Danisco, provides a safe and effective means to enhance the body’s natural defenses and has been clinically shown to reduce the incidence and severity of cold and flu symptoms in children.

A recent study entitled “Probiotic Effects on Cold and Influenza-Like Symptom Incidence and Duration in Children”, sponsored by Danisco and published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, demonstrates the benefits of the HOWARU Protect probiotic combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07 in maintaining immune health in children.

For six months, 326 children, aged 3 to 5, were given supplements twice a day. One group received a single strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM. One group received a combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07. The third group received a placebo.

When compared to the placebo group, the groups that received the single and combination probiotic supplements reduced their fever incidence by 53% and 72.7% respectively. Their coughing was reduced by 41.4% and 62.1% and their runny noses were lessened by 28.2% and 58.5%. The duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms were also significantly reduced in the children receiving the probiotics. Because of their enhanced natural defenses, these children had less need for prescription antibiotics and missed fewer days of childcare.

HOWARU Protect can be delivered via capsules, powder sachets and chewable tablets, and as an ingredient in dairy applications.