Young children given probiotics seem to suffer from fewer daycare-related illnesses. Parents of preschoolers know that they seem to pass around a large number of infections, partly because toddlers may have less than fastidious hygiene.
Mexican researchers studied 336 youngsters between 6 months and 3 years of age. Every day for three months, half of the kids got drops with active Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, a probiotic organism, while the other half got identical seeming drops with no microorganisms. Parents recorded all illnesses for three months.
The children given probiotic drops had fewer episodes of diarrhea as well as fewer coughs and sniffles. Somewhat surprisingly, the protective effects of the probiotic lasted for an additional three months beyond the time the drops were given. Kids on probiotics also ended up being prescribed fewer antibiotics during the study. The study was funded by the probiotic manufacturer BioGaia AB.
