Bifidobacteriumanimalis subsp. lactis BB-12 in reducing the risk of infections in infancy

Abstract

The impact of controlled administration of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 (BB-12) on the risk of acute infectious diseases was studied in healthy newborn infants. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 109 newborn 1-month-old infants were assigned randomly to a probiotic group receiving a BB-12-containing tablet (n 55) or to a control group receiving a control tablet (n 54). Test tablets were administered to the infants twice a day (daily dose of BB-12 10 billion colony-forming units) from the age of 1 -2 months to 8 months with a novel slow-release pacifier or a spoon. Breastfeeding habits, pacifier use, dietary habits, medications and all signs and symptoms of acute infections were registered. At the age of 8 months, faecal samples were collected for BB-12 determination (quantitative PCR method). The baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar, as was the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. BB-12 was recovered (detection limit log 5) in the faeces of 62 % of the infants receiving the BB-12 tablet. The daily duration of pacifier sucking was not associated with the occurrence of acute otitis media. No significant differences between the groups were observed in reported gastrointestinal symptoms, otitis media or use of antibiotics. However, the infants receiving BB-12 were reported to have experienced fewer respiratory infections (65 v. 94 %; risk ratio 0·69; 95 % CI 0·53, 0·89; P¼ 0·014) than the control infants. Controlled administration of BB-12 in early childhood may reduce respiratory infections.

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 in reducing the risk of infections in early childhood

“…We found in healthy children a significant reduction in the prevalence of RTIs during the first 2 y of life as a result of controlled supplementation of BB-12, even though the reduction was more prominent during the first 8 mo (17). We also found a trend of reduced occurrence of recurrent RTI episodes in the BB-12 group.…”

“…Furthermore, at the time of the trial, BB-12-containing products were not available for children in Finland and very few such products were available for adults. The delivery of BB-12 significantly reduced the occurrence of RTIs during the first 8 mo of life (17). Here, we report common infectious symptoms and diseases that occurred in the study during the first 2 y of a child's life.…”

“…At 8 mo of age, the children in the BB-12 group showed a fecal colonization percentage of 62, while in the control group, the percentage was only 17 (17). Probiotics consumed by the mother influences the microbiota of the child, for example via breastfeeding, which may explain why BB-12 could be detected in the feces of the 8-mo-old control children (22,23).…”

“…The study design and data collection have been described in detail earlier (17). Infants and parents visited the healthcare centers at the age of 1 mo, 8 mo, and 2 y.…”

Study to investigate the potential of probiotics in children attending school

“…lactis (B. lactis), marketed as BB-12, is a commercially available probiotic strain that is considered one of the most well characterized and studied probiotics, particularly in reducing illness in young children. (Black et al, 1989;Alm et al, 1993;Link-Amster et al, 1994;Saavedra et al, 1994;Schiffrin et al, 1995;Obradovic et al, 1996;Kankaanpaa et al, 1998;Phuapradit et al, 1999;Matsumoto et al, 2001;Chouraqui et al, 2004;Amrouche et al, 2006a, b;Taipale et al, 2011). Long-term consumption of BB-12-fortified formula at levels as high as 240 billion colony-forming unit (CFU) per day has been shown to be safe and well tolerated (Abi-Hanna et al, 1998;Saavedra et al, 2004).…”