Healthy children attending day-care centres have a significantly lower risk of
getting diarrhoea or respiratory tract infections when given a daily supplement
of Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis, a study in 336 children shows.
”Our study confirms earlier published data in proving that preventive use of L.
reuteri Protectis in healthy children reduces diarrhoeic episodes. Moreover, the
study demonstrated a reduction of respiratory tract infections in supplemented
children”, says Pedro Gutiérrez-Castrellón, Head of Translational Research Unit
on Pediatric Nutrition, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, Mexico and
Academic Professor of Public Health at Medicine Faculty ULSA, Mexico.
Fewer sick days with Protectis
During the three months’ long intervention the children receiving Lactobacillus
reuteri Protectis had 67 per cent fewer days with diarrhoea or respiratory tract
infection than children in the placebo group.
When infected the episodes were also shorter than in the placebo group;
diarrhoea was shortened by one day and the duration of respiratory tract
infection was three days shorter compared to placebo. Moreover, the children
supplemented by Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis had fewer days with fever, used
less antibiotics and were less absent from day-care.
Healthier children save costs
Paediatric gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections also lead to
considerable costs for the community, for visiting the doctor, medication and
for being absent from school and work. By calculating the direct costs the
investigators demonstrated that daily use of Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis
saves costs both for the family and the community.
“The intervention was shown to be cost effective and therefore, both in terms of
reducing disease and from an economic perspective, this trial adds independent
support to previous evidence that daily preventive use of L. reuteri Protectis
could be valuable for families and the society”, adds Dr Gutierrez-Castrellon.
The study was published in the highly regarded medical journal Pediatrics on 17
March
2014 (http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2014/03/11/peds.2013
-0652.abstract).
Study details are found through the attached
link (http://www.biogaia.com/sites/biogaia.com/files/Gutierrez_2014_Study_design
.
pdf).
“This is yet another study that shows that L. reuteri Protectis has preventive
effects in common infections. In several mature markets we can now actively
broaden our sales efforts to the prevention market, which of course has a much
bigger potential compared to the treatment market”, says Peter Rothschild,
President, BioGaia.
The new results confirm earlier data
Several studies have already shown that Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis can
reduce the risk of suffering from various conditions. A study from 2011 showed
that Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis could prevent diarrhoea and affect height
and weight in children in Indonesia (Agustina). In 2005 a study was published in
which Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis was shown to reduce the risk of fever,
respiratory tract infection and need of antibiotics. The children who received
Protectis were healthier and had fewer sick days than the children who received
placebo (Weizman). A Swedish study performed with employees at TetraPak showed
that those who received a daily supplementation of Lactobacillus reuteri
Protectis had fewer sick days (Tubelius, 2005).
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BioGaia has published this information in accordance with the Swedish Securities
Market Act. The information was issued for publication on 17 March 2014, 09:00
am CET.
For additional information please contact
Peter Rothschild, Chief Executive Officer, BioGaia: 46 8 555 293 00
BioGaia is a healthcare company that develops, markets and sells probiotic
products with documented health benefits. The products are primarily based on
the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri, which has probiotic, health
-enhancing effects. The class B share of the Parent Company BioGaia AB is quoted
on the Mid Cap list of the NASDAQ OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm. www.biogaia.com
