Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis Reduced Diarrhoea in Children

Stockholm (ots/PRNewswire) -

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 494 children showed
that supplementation of Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis significantly
reduced episodes of diarrhoea. Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis was
particularly effective in children with lower nutritional status.
Another probiotic strain, which was also tested, was without effect.

Study design

The six month long double-blind, placebo-controlled study was
performed in Indonesia and included 494 healthy children aged one to
six years. The children were randomly assigned to receive low-lactose
milk with or without Lactobacillus casei 431 or Lactobacillus reuteri
DSM17938.

Primary outcome was number and duration of acute diarrhoeal
episodes. Diarrhoea was measured both according to the World Health
Organisation's definition of diarrhoea, greater than or equal to3
loose/liquid stools in 24 hours, and as incidence of all diarrhoea,
greater than or equal to2 loose/liquid stools in 24 hours. Secondary
outcome was number and duration of acute respiratory infections.

Significant results only with Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis

The results showed that the incidence of all diarrhoea episodes
was significantly reduced by 32 per cent in the group supplemented by
Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis compared to placebo. In children with
lower nutritional status (below median height and weight for the age
group) Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis had significant effect on both
WHO defined and all episodes of diarrhoea.

None of the other interventions showed any significant effects on
either WHO defined or all episodes of diarrhoea and none of the
interventions affected incidence or duration of acute respiratory
infections. An additional finding was significantly reduced
antibiotic use in the Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis supplemented
children compared to those given placebo.

The study was conducted independently from BioGaia
[http://www.biogaia.com ] and the results were announced in a press
release by NIZO food research on 21 February 2012:
http://www.nizo.com/news/latest-news/56/bovee

The study will be published in Journal of Pediatrics. Doctor Rina
Agustina will also present the results at the International Symposium
of Probiotics and Prebiotics in Pediatrics (IS3P) on 24 February
2012.

"These new and very positive results with Lactobacillus reuteri
Protectis confirm earlier studies with this probiotic strain in
children with acute diarrhoea. As the other probiotic tested in the
study did not show any positive effects, this strengthens the
importance of using the right strain when choosing a probiotic," says
Peter Rothschild, President at BioGaia.

For additional information please contact
        Peter Rothschild, President, telephone: +46-8-555-293-00
        Eamonn Connolly, Senior Vice President Research, telephone: 
+46-8-555-293-00
        About the company: http://www.biogaia.com

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