Evaluating infants in day care following a probiotic supplementation period: is there long-term protection against common infections?

This retrospective study sought to evaluate whether day care infants (n=194) acquire long-term protection against common infections following cessation of probiotic supplementation. Infants aged 4–10 months received formula without supplementation (n=59) or supplemented with Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 (n=69) or Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730 (n=66) for 12 weeks and were followed for a further 12 weeks without supplementation. During the non- supplemented period there were no significant differences between the groups for any of the parameters measured, including days or episodes of fever, days or episodes of diarrhoea, and days or episodes of respiratory illness. See also Weizman et al., 2005, page 5.

Conclusion:

Formula supplementation with B. lactis or L. reuteri can provide protection during the supplementation period but is not associated with a long-term protective effect following this period.

Reference

Weizman Z. (2009) Evaluating infants in day care following a probiotic supplementation period: is there long-term protection against common infections? J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 48(Suppl. 3): E74-E75, abstract PN1-07. (Follow-up data of study in day-care infants, first published 2005.)