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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2021 Mar;75(3):513-520.
doi: 10.1038/s41430-020-00754-9. Epub 2020 Sep 28.

Efficacy of probiotics on digestive disorders and acute respiratory infections: a controlled clinical trial in young Vietnamese children

Truong Tuyet Mai  1 , Pham Thi Thu  2 , Hoang Thi Hang  3 , Tran Thi Thu Trang  3 , Shintaro Yui  4 , Akira Shigehisa  5 , Vu Thuy Tien  6 , Truong Viet Dung  7 , Phan Bich Nga  3 , Nguyen Trong Hung  3 , Le Danh Tuyen  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Efficacy of probiotics on digestive disorders and acute respiratory infections: a controlled clinical trial in young Vietnamese children

Truong Tuyet Mai et al. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) on the incidence of constipation, diarrhea, acute respiratory infections (ARI), and nutritional status of young Vietnamese children.

Methods: A controlled field trial was conducted with 1003 children (3-5 years old) in Thanh Hoa province in Vietnam. The probiotic group (n = 510) consumed fermented milk 65 mL/day containing 108 CFU/mL of LcS for the 12-week intervention period, whereas the control group (n = 493) was not given any. The incidence of constipation, diarrhea, ARI, and anthropometry in children was determined at baseline, after 4, 8, and 12-week intervention, and after the 4-week follow-up period.

Results: Probiotic drink decreased the incidence of constipation after the 12-week intervention period (12.0% vs. 32.0%, OR = 0.28 (95% CI: 0.21-0.40), p < 0.001), tended to decrease the incidence of diarrhea (4.9% vs. 7.9%, OR = 0.60 (95% CI: 0.35-1.01), p = 0.068), and prevented the occurrence of ARI (15.9% vs. 24.5%, OR = 0.58 (95% CI: 0.42-0.79), p < 0.001), when compared with the control group. In contrast, no probiotic effects were observed for the duration of diarrhea or ARI. Weight gain was higher in the probiotic group than in the control group after 4, 8, and 12-week intervention and after the 4-week follow-up period (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Daily intake of fermented milk containing LcS strongly prevented the incidence of constipation and ARI in Vietnamese children. This study also revealed the potential effects of the use of a probiotic drink on diarrhea prevention as well as nutritional status improvement.

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Conflict of interest statement

TTM received research funding from Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. SY and AS are current employees of Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd., and VTT is a current employee of Yakult Vietnam Co., Ltd. All other authors have nothing to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Incidence of constipation between Control and Probiotic groups.
The incidence of constipation was monitored at baseline (T0), during intervention (T4–T12) and after 4-week follow-up (T16) in Control and Probiotic groups. *p < 0.05 compared to the Control group (Chi-square test).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Incidence of diarrhea between Control and Probiotic groups.
The incidence of diarrhea was monitored at baseline (T0), during intervention (T4–T12) and after 4-week follow-up (T16) in Control and Probiotic group. *p < 0.05 compared to the Control group (Chi-square test).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. Incidence of ARI between Control and Probiotic groups.
The incidence of ARI was monitored at baseline (T0), during intervention (T4–T12) and after 4-week follow-up (T16) in Control and Probiotic group. *p < 0.05 compared to the Control group (Chi-square test).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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