Efficacy of probiotics on digestive disorders and acute respiratory infections: a controlled clinical trial in young Vietnamese children

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) on the incidence of constipation, diarrhea, acute respiratory infections (ARI), and nutritional status of young Vietnamese children. Methods A controlled field trial was conducted with 1003 children (3–5 years old) in Thanh Hoa province in Vietnam. The probiotic group (n = 510) consumed fermented milk 65 mL/day containing 108 CFU/mL of LcS for the 12-week intervention period, whereas the control group (n = 493) was not given any. The incidence of constipation, diarrhea, ARI, and anthropometry in children was determined at baseline, after 4, 8, and 12-week intervention, and after the 4-week follow-up period. Results Probiotic drink decreased the incidence of constipation after the 12-week intervention period (12.0% vs. 32.0%, OR = 0.28 (95% CI: 0.21–0.40), p < 0.001), tended to decrease the incidence of diarrhea (4.9% vs. 7.9%, OR = 0.60 (95% CI: 0.35–1.01), p = 0.068), and prevented the occurrence of ARI (15.9% vs. 24.5%, OR = 0.58 (95% CI: 0.42–0.79), p < 0.001), when compared with the control group. In contrast, no probiotic effects were observed for the duration of diarrhea or ARI. Weight gain was higher in the probiotic group than in the control group after 4, 8, and 12-week intervention and after the 4-week follow-up period (p < 0.05). Conclusions Daily intake of fermented milk containing LcS strongly prevented the incidence of constipation and ARI in Vietnamese children. This study also revealed the potential effects of the use of a probiotic drink on diarrhea prevention as well as nutritional status improvement.

Gut Microbiota–Targeted Nutritional Interventions Improving Child Growth in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

“…In total, the trials analyzed the data of 5776 children. An equal number of 4 studies included healthy children ( 40 , 42 , 44 , 49 ) and undernourished children ( 41 , 43 , 45 , 46 ). In 3 studies the health status was not well described ( 34 , 47 , 48 ).…”

“…In 3 studies the health status was not well described ( 34 , 47 , 48 ). The interventions included different species, mostly from the Lactobacillus genus ( 40 – 48 ), with a milk drink as the predominant vehicle of delivery ( 34 , 40 , 45 , 47 – 49 ). The administered dosage ranged from 5 × 10 7 to 1.61 × 10 10 CFU/d.…”

“…The administered dosage ranged from 5 × 10 7 to 1.61 × 10 10 CFU/d. The control group received most often a placebo ( 34 , 40 – 42 , 44 , 47 – 49 ) but an isocaloric replacement ( 46 ) or nothing ( 43 , 45 ) was also used.…”

Probiotics in the dairy industry—Advances and opportunities

“…Probiotic fermented milk has also shown effective digestive disorders and respiratory disorders in children. When probiotic milk containing L. casei Shirota (10 8 CFU/mL) was given (65 mL/days) to 1003 children (3 to 5 years old) for 12 weeks, a significant reduction, compared to the control group members, in constipation, diarrhea, and respiratory acute infections was reported (Mai et al., 2021).…”

Is butyrate a natural alternative to dexamethasone in the management of CoVID-19?

“…Dietary supplementation of cow’s milk and fermented rice with L. paracasei CBA L74 helps in prevention of common infectious disease including upper respiratory tract infections in children 90 . Daily intake of fermented milk containing probiotic L. casei strain ‘Shirota’ has been shown to reduce the incidence and duration of respiratory tract infections in healthy middle aged office workers and young children via modulation of the immune system 91 , 92 . Daily ingestion of the probiotic L. paracasei ST11 can reduce the degree of virus replication and dissemination thereby attenuating lung inflammation and subsequent death in mice infected with vaccinia virus 95 .…”