Tolerance and fecal colonization with L. reuteri in children

A double blind, randomised and placebo-controlled safety study on 72 healthy children, aged 12–36 months, living in Mexico City. For three weeks L. reuteri ATCC 55730 was administered in a nutritional beverage containing a probiotic blend of three strains. The children were randomised into four groups: three groups given the probiotic beverage, which differed in the dosage of L. reuteri (10⁶, 10⁸ and 10¹⁰ CFU, respectively), and a control group consuming a placebo beverage. All dose levels of L. reuteri were well tolerated and no side-effects were noted.

Conclusion: The daily consumption of L. reuteri, in doses up to 10¹⁰ CFU during three weeks, was shown to be safe for healthy children aged 12–36 months.

Reference

Ruiz-Palacios G, Tuz F, Artega F, Guerrero ML, Dohnalek M, Hilty M. (1996) Tolerance and fecal colonization with Lactobacillus reuteri in children fed a beverage with a mixture of lactobacillus spp. Pediatr Res 39(4) part 2:184A, abstract 1090.