Probiotics reduce childhood illness - by a LOT!!!

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Probably no surprise to anyone here:

" METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 326 eligible children

(3–5 years of age) were assigned randomly to receive placebo (N = 104),

Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM (N = 110), or L acidophilus NCFM in combination

with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis Bi-07 (N = 112). Children were

treated twice daily for 6 months.

RESULTS: Relative to the placebo group, single and combination probiotics

reduced fever incidence by 53.0% (P = .0085) and 72.7% (P = .0009), coughing

incidence by 41.4% (P = .027) and 62.1% (P = .005), and rhinorrhea incidence by

28.2% (P = .68) and 58.8% (P = .03), respectively. Fever, coughing, and

rhinorrhea duration was decreased significantly, relative to placebo, by 32%

(single strain; P = .0023) and 48% (strain combination; P < .001). Antibiotic

use incidence was reduced, relative to placebo, by 68.4% (single strain; P =

..0002) and 84.2% (strain combination; P < .0001). Subjects receiving probiotic

products had significant reductions in days absent from group child care, by

31.8% (single strain; P = .002) and 27.7% (strain combination; P < .001),

compared with subjects receiving placebo treatment. "

from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/124/2/e172