Probiotics and Infections in Conscripts in Military Service
Condition: Respiratory Tract Infections; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Asthma Exacerbations
MeSH terms: Infections; Communicable Diseases; Respiratory Tract Infections; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Digestive System Diseases
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The aim was to study whether probiotic intervention has an impact on seasonal occurrence of
      upper respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in two different conscript groups. In a
      randomised, double-blinded, placebo controlled study a total of 983 healthy adults were
      enrolled from two intakes of conscripts. Conscripts were randomised to receive either a
      probiotic combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp.
      lactis BB12 (BB12) or a control chewing tablet twice daily for 150 days (recruits) or for 90
      days (reserve officer candidates). Clinical examinations were carried out and daily symptom
      diaries were collected. Outcome measures were the number of days with respiratory and
      gastrointestinal symptoms and symptom incidence, number and duration of infection episodes,
      number of antibiotic treatments received and number of days out of service because of the
      infection. Statistically no significant differences were found between the intervention
      groups either in the risk of symptom incidence or duration. However, probiotic intervention
      was associated with reduction of specific respiratory infection symptoms in military
      recruits, but not in reserve officer candidates. Probiotics did not significantly reduce
      overall respiratory and gastrointestinal infection morbidity.
    

Detailed description: 
      Military conscripts are susceptible to respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infections. In
      previous studies probiotics have shown potency to reduce upper respiratory and
      gastrointestinal infections. The aim was to study whether probiotic intervention has an
      impact on seasonal occurrence of upper respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in two
      different conscript groups. In a randomised, double-blinded, placebo controlled study a total
      of 983 healthy adults were enrolled from two intakes of conscripts. Conscripts were
      randomised to receive either a probiotic combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and
      Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BB12 (BB12) or a control chewing tablet twice daily for
      150 days (recruits) or for 90 days (reserve officer candidates). Clinical examinations were
      carried out and daily symptom diaries were collected. Outcome measures were the number of
      days with respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms and symptom incidence, number and
      duration of infection episodes, number of antibiotic treatments received and number of days
      out of service because of the infection. Statistically no significant differences were found
      between the intervention groups either in the risk of symptom incidence or duration. However,
      probiotic intervention was associated with reduction of specific respiratory infection
      symptoms in military recruits, but not in reserve officer candidates. Probiotics did not
      significantly reduce overall respiratory and gastrointestinal infection morbidity.
    

Intervention name(s): Probiotic; Placebo
Intervention type(s): Dietary Supplement; Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Prevention