Preventive Effect of Cow’s Milk Fermented with Lactobacillus paracasei CBA L74 on Common Infectious Diseases in Children: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Study answer

What this study found

The fermented milk reduced common infectious diseases and was well tolerated, with no adverse events recorded. In intention-to-treat analysis, common infectious disease occurred in 60% of the active group versus 83% of controls (p < 0.01; ARD -23%, 95% CI -37% to -9%), and in per-protocol analysis 18% versus 40% (p < 0.01; ARD -22%, 95% CI -37% to -6%). Upper respiratory tract infection and acute gastroenteritis were also lower in the active group, and fewer children used at least one medication course (45% vs 65%); one child in the control group required hospitalization. The intervention…

Study & population

This was a multicenter randomized controlled trial in healthy children aged 12 to 48 months attending day care or preschool in urban Italy.

Intervention

Children in the active arm received 7 g/day of cow's skim milk fermented with Lactobacillus paracasei CBA L74 by mouth once daily for 3 months, diluted in up to 150 mL of cow's milk or water.

Key limitation

The trial had a relatively small sample size, and follow-up lasted only 3 months during a single winter season.

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Original abstract