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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2010 Jul;64(7):669-77.
doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2010.65. Epub 2010 May 19.

Use of a fermented dairy probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus casei (DN-114 001) to decrease the rate of illness in kids: the DRINK study. A patient-oriented, double-blind, cluster-randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial

D Merenstein  1 , M Murphy, A Fokar, R K Hernandez, H Park, H Nsouli, M E Sanders, B A Davis, V Niborski, F Tondu, N M Shara
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Free PMC article
Randomized Controlled Trial

Use of a fermented dairy probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus casei (DN-114 001) to decrease the rate of illness in kids: the DRINK study. A patient-oriented, double-blind, cluster-randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial

D Merenstein et al. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2010 Jul.
Free PMC article

Abstract

Background: To evaluate whether a fermented dairy drink containing the probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 could reduce the incidence of common infectious diseases (CIDs) and the change of behavior because of illness in children.

Subjects/methods: We conducted a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled allocation concealment clinical trial in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Participants were 638 children 3-6 years old in daycare/schools. The intervention was a fermented dairy drink containing a specific probiotic strain or matching placebo with no live cultures for 90 consecutive days. Two primary outcomes were assessed: incidence of CIDs and change of behavior because of illness (both assessed by parental report).

Results: The rate of change of behavior because of illness was similar among active and control groups. However, the incidence rate for CIDs in the active group (0.0782) is 19% lower than that of the control group (0.0986) (incidence rate ratio=0.81, 95% CI: 0.65, 099) P=0.046.

Conclusions: Daily intake of a fermented dairy drink containing the probiotic strain L. casei DN-114 001 showed some promise in reducing overall incidence of illness, but was primarily driven by gastrointestinal infections and there were no differences in change of behavior.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant flow chart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of subjects for cumulated number of CID during the study product consumption.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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