Study to investigate the potential of probiotics in children attending school

Background/Objectives: To determine if consumption of yogurt containing a high dose of probiotic (1 x 10(10) colony-forming unit per 100 ml), Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (B. lactis), decreases absences in children 2-4 years attending daycare/school centers. Subjects/Methods: We conducted a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, allocation concealment clinical trial in the Washington, DC area. Our active intervention was a strawberry yogurt-based drink supplemented with B. lactis BB-12. The placebo was indistinguishable from the active drink, differing only in absence of the probiotic BB-12. Results: A total of 172 children between the ages of 2 and 4 from the Washington, DC area were enrolled. The primary outcome, missed days of school because of illness per 100 days, was similar in both the active (2.54 days absent/100 school days) and control groups (2.42 days absent/100 school days) (P = 0.873). Conclusions: The probiotic-containing yogurt-based beverage studied did not decrease absences because of illnesses in daycare/school for healthy children ages 2-4 years. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2011) 65, 447-453; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2010.290; published online 16 February 2011