|
|
LGG reduces infections in children attending day care centres
|
British Medical Journal (BMJ) published on June 2nd, 2001 the results of research conducted in day care centres in Helsinki. It shows that children who had taken the Lactobacillus GG bacterium, did not suffer as many respiratory tract infections diagnosed by a doctor, and consequently required less antibiotic treatment than those in the placebo group. Their absenteeism rate from kindergarten due to illness was also lower.
|
A total of 571 children from 18 day care centres in Helsinki participated in the study. During the seven month research period, half the children were given pasteurised milk that contains Lactobacillus GG, to drink with all meals at the day care centres, and the other half were given ordinary milk with a 1% fat content. The average milk consumption was 260 ml/day.
The children's health was carefully monitored and symptoms in the respiratory tract and digestive tract, as well as absences from day care centre, were recorded daily by parents. Doctors' diagnoses and antibiotic treatments were also reported. In the Lactobacillus GG group there were 17% less children who suffered from respiratory tract infections diagnosed by a doctor, especially ear infections. The number of children who received antibiotic treatment for respiratory infections was 19% lower than in the placebo group. The absenteeism rate was 11% lower in the LGG group than in the placebo group.
Day care centres expose children to infections, especially of the upper respiratory tract. Overall, more than 90% of child absenteeism from day care due to illness is caused by infectious diseases. In addition to discomfort to children and their families illnesses are costly for society. The greatest costs result from the parents' absence from work due to a child's illness.
Boosting immunity is one way to prevent infections in young children. Professor Wanke of Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, USA, concludes in the BMJ editorial that functional lactic acid bacteria, or probiotics, may help in the prevention of both respiratory tract infections and diarrhoea.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Site map