Human Milk Probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 Reduces the Incidence of Gastrointestinal and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Infants

• Published in: Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition Vol. 54; no. 1; pp. 55 - 61
• Main Authors: Maldonado, José, Cañabate, Francisco, Sempere, Luis, Vela, Francisco, Sánchez, Ana R., Narbona, Eduardo, López‐Huertas, Eduardo, Geerlings, Arjan, Valero, Antonio D., Olivares, Mónica, Lara‐Villoslada, Federico
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Copyright by ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN 01-01-2012; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Dietary Supplements; Diseases of the digestive system; Double-Blind Method; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; follow‐on formula; Food Microbiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - epidemiology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - prevention & control; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Infant Formula - chemistry; infants; infection; Lactobacillus fermentum; Male; Medical sciences; Milk, Human - microbiology; probiotics; Probiotics - therapeutic use; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - prevention & control; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Human; Probiotic; infection; Lactobacillus fermentum; infants; Upper respiratory tract; Respiratory disease; Gastroenteritis; Metabolic diseases; Infant; follow-on formula; Respiratory system infection; Epidemiology; Incidence; Lactobncillus fermentum; Gastroenterology; Human milk; Bacteria; Lactobacillaceae; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Digestive tract; Gastric disease; probiotics
• ISSN: 0277-2116; 1536-4801
• DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0b013e3182333f18

ABSTRACT
Objectives:
The aim of the study was to examine the effects of a follow‐on formula containing Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 (L fermentum) on the incidence of infections in infants between the ages of 6 and 12 months.
Patients and Methods:
A randomized double‐blinded controlled study including infants at the age of 6 months was conducted. Infants were assigned randomly to either follow‐on formula supplemented with L fermentum plus galactooligosaccharide (experimental group, EG), or the same formula supplemented with only galactooligosaccharide (control group, CG). The main outcome was the incidence of infections for the 6‐month duration of the study.
Results:
The EG showed a significant 46% reduction in the incidence rate (IR) of gastrointestinal infections (EG: 0.196 ± 0.51, CG: 0.363 ± 0.53, IR ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.307–0.950, P = 0.032), 27% reduction in the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (EG: 0.969 ± 0.96, CG: 1.330 ± 1.23, IR ratio 0.729, 95% CI 0.46–1.38, P = 0.026), and 30% reduction in the total number of infections (EG: 1.464 ± 1.15, CG: 2.077 ± 1.59, IR ratio 0.70, 95% CI 0.46–1.38, P = 0.003), at the end of the study period compared with CG.
Conclusions:
Administration of a follow‐on formula with L fermentum CECT5716 may be useful for the prevention of community‐acquired gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections.