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The 7mo study is referred to as the first "long term" study of its kind. I think the results are oustanding because the posititve effects occured with children in only 7mos. Children's immune systems are already robust; who knows what a 10yr study might reveal in terms of existing adult conditions, such as LGS, chronic fatigue, and arthritis?
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Probiotic Milk May Ward Off Child's Cough, Cold
By Charnicia E. Huggins
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - 06/03/2001 -Children who drink probiotic milk, with added helpful Lactobacillus GG (LGG) bacteria, may be slightly less likely to have fevers, sore throats or diarrhea than children who drink regular milk, according to a group of Finnish researchers.
The bacteria, although naturally present in the gut, can be used to help balance the presence of harmful microbes, warding off intestinal problems.
"This is the first long-term study investigating long-term effects of probiotics," according to study author Dr. Riitta Korpela of Valio Research and Development in Helsinki, Finland. "It shows that probiotics may be of value in maintaining health and reducing risk of infections in healthy, normal children," she told Reuters Health in an interview.
In the study, roughly 600 children aged 1 to 6 years drank about one cup per day of either probiotic or regular milk over a 7-month period.
Findings show that less than 40% of the probiotic milk drinkers had a respiratory infection such as bronchitis or pneumonia, compared with almost 50% of the comparison group, the authors report in the June 2nd issue of the British Medical Journal.
Children who drank probiotic milk were less likely to be absent from day care due to illness, and they also spent more days without experiencing runny nose, fever or any other respiratory symptoms, the report indicates.
Such differences narrowed between the two groups after the investigators took age into consideration, yet they ``were consistently in favour of the Lactobacillus GG group,'' the researchers report.
"A probiotic therapy could be one possibility in reducing infections in children," according to Korpela. "The administration of probiotic milk is an easy and acceptable method, with no adverse effects."
Before such advice is heeded, however, more study is needed, according to editorialist Dr. Christine A. Wanke, of Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts.
"We do not yet have a final answer on whether probiotics (or a particular probiotic) are sufficiently effective in preventing common childhood diseases that they can be routinely recommended," Wanke writes.
Source: British Medical Journal 2001;322:1327-1329,1318-1319.
In Reply to: Study on Probiotics Effect on Children > posted by Peter B on June 06, 2001 at 12:12:31:
Below is a link to a comprehensive review of studies done on different probiotics. It mentions Saccharomyces boulardii being used for treating intestinal problems. Kefir is known to contain this nonpathogenic yeast. Yogurt does not. Kefir also contains many other beneficial bacteria that have been talked about on this board, plus some more.
In Reply to: Review of multiple studies and making a case for using kefir posted by R. on June 06, 2001 at 17:17:19:
I'm getting used to the kefir (day 3) and frankly look forward to it. I might still start a capsule probiotic. Here is an excerpt from midway I thot was especially relevant (thanks R):
While the ability to survive the digestive processes in the gastrointestinal environment is thought to relate to efficacy, proliferation and persistence in the gut are apparently not [my emphasis] of paramount importance for biotherapeutic agents, provided continuous daily administration is performed. Lactobacillus casei GG is the only biotherapeutic agent shown to persist in the intestinal tract following cessation of dosing. At day 7 after discontinuing administration, six of 18 subjects still harbored L casei GG, albeit with a 100-fold decrease from steady state levels [74]. However, other biotherapeutic agents with demonstrated efficacies (eg, L acidophilus [75], S boulardii [76], or a Bifidobacterium species [77]) survive intestinal passage as evidenced by high fecal levels but disappear within a few days after the last dose. If consumed on a daily basis, the beneficial effect of the transient biotherapeutic agents can be maintained.
In Reply to: Re: Review of multiple studies and making a case for using kefir posted by Peter B on June 06, 2001 at 19:18:53:
Making your own ensures you are getting the freshest kefir.
In Reply to: Study on Probiotics Effect on Children > posted by Peter B on June 06, 2001 at 12:12:31:
Here's the actual study. I hate it when journalists say things like "less than 40%" or "almost 50%" :)
Things look a little strange when you look at the respiratory infection history of the control group.
In Reply to: Study on Probiotics Effect on Children > posted by Peter B on June 06, 2001 at 12:12:31:
As it was stated in the study's conclusions section -- "the effects of the probiotic Lactobacillus GG were modest". I'd say they were weak -- 4.4 days vs. 5.8. Not much.
In another study I read about, milk fermented with LGG along with usual yogurt strains was more effective than milk fermented with LGG alone or regular yogurt. Provided all other variables are fixed, there's a synergistic effect when different types of microorganisms are used.
In Reply to: Are you making your own kefir? posted by R. on June 06, 2001 at 21:03:53:
In Reply to: Weak effect posted by R. on June 06, 2001 at 22:20:24:
Consider the percentages. Duration of illness in the "probiotic group" was 24% less ((5.8-4.4)/5.5)...the number of children with respiratory infections (otitis media, sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia) was 17% lower...and 19% fewer children in the Lactobacillus group were prescribed antibiotics for respiratory infections. Outstanding results! If over-the-counter drugs were this good, we'd see PHARMA-TV running info-mercials 24/7 without the program breaks we get now.
In Reply to: Re: Weak effect? Not at all! posted by Peter B on June 07, 2001 at 09:00:37:
I agree that drug companies' ads would be all over the TV if they achieved this result. Nevertheless, in my opinion, 24% and 17% is not much. I shoot for very significant results such as over 50% or close 75% or more.
In Reply to: Re: Weak effect? Not at all! posted by R. on June 07, 2001 at 13:50:00:
In Reply to: Study on Probiotics Effect on Children > posted by Peter B on June 06, 2001 at 12:12:31:
Thanks, Peter.
Walt
In Reply to: Weak effect posted by R. on June 06, 2001 at 22:20:24:
Hi, R.
There is a world of difference between short term effects (what the allopathic paradigm is interested in) and long term effects (what is needed).
Namaste`
Walt
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