A Randomized Prospective Double Blind Controlled Trial on Effects of Long-Term Consumption of Fermented Milk Containing Lactobacillus casei in Pre-School Children With Allergic Asthma and/or Rhinitis

Abstract

ABSTRACT:To examine whether long-term consumption of fermented milk containing a specific Lactobacillus casei may improve the health status of preschool children suffering from allergic asthma and/or rhinitis a randomized, prospective, double blind, controlled trial was conducted in 187 children 2-5 y of age. The children received for 12 mo either fermented milk (100 mL) containing Lactobacillus casei (10 8 cfu/mL) or placebo. The time free from and the number of episodes of asthma/rhinitis after starting intervention were the outcome measures. The number of fever or diarrhea episodes and the change in serum immunoglobulin were further assessed. No statistical difference between intervention and control group occurred in asthmatic children. In children with rhinitis, the annual number of rhinitis episodes was lower in the intervention group, mean difference (95% CI), Ϫ1.6 (Ϫ3.15 to Ϫ0.05); the mean duration of an episode of diarrhea was lower in the intervention group, mean difference Ϫ0.81 (Ϫ1.52 to Ϫ0.10) days. While longterm consumption of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei may improve the health status of children with allergic rhinitis no effect was found in asthmatic children.

Probiotic E.faecalis — adjuvant therapy in children with recurrent rhinosinusitis

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Pediatric Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma: Can the March be Halted?

“…Some controlled trials reported overall positive results with the administration of lactobacillus in children with AR [108,109], and a small study reported clinical and anti-inflammatory effects provided by Bacillus clausii [110]. Data showing that probiotic supplementation modulates immune responses in AR and may potentially alleviate the AR symptom severity [111] are encouraging, but their primary preventive effect on atopic diseases, probably by enhancing the T helper type 1 (TH1) response, is still unconfirmed [112].…”

A non-hydrolyzed, fermented milk formula reduces digestive and respiratory events in infants at high risk of allergy

“…Based on the impact of intestinal microbiota modifications on food allergies, new dietetic strategies are currently being proposed, including the addition of prebiotics and probiotics to hydrolyzed infant formulae to prevent atopic diseases (Wold, 1998;Isolauri et al, 2000;Kalliomaki et al, 2001;Rosenfeldt et al, 2003;Viljanen et al, 2005;Giovannini et al, 2007;Kukkonen et al, 2007;Betsi et al, 2008;Boehm and Moro, 2008). Nonetheless, their efficacy and tolerance has still not been proven (FAO/WHO, 2002;AFSSA, 2003;Agostoni et al, 2004Agostoni et al, , 2007Osborn and Sinn, 2007;Hol et al, 2008;Kopp et al, 2008;Lee et al, 2008).…”