The importance of probiotics for children
By Alan R. Gaby, M.D.Probiotics are "friendly" microorganisms (typically bacteria or yeasts)
that can live in the gastrointestinal tract or on other mucosal surfaces
and have beneficial effects on human physiology and health. Probiotic
organisms are believed to work in part by enhancing digestion and immune
function by competing with pathogenic microorganisms for binding sites
on mucosal surfaces.*
Numerous studies have found that probiotics can moderate occasional
diarrhea in children. In one double-blind study, 200 children were
randomly assigned to receive 250 mg per day of
Saccharomyces boulardii for five days. In another
double-blind trial, 269 children were randomly assigned to receive 250
mg of
S. boulardii twice per day.1 In both trials,
S. boulardii provided statistically significant support for
healthy stool transit time.*
The positive effects of probiotics in children are not limited to the
gastrointestinal tract. Various probiotics have also been used to
support immune health. In one study, 571 healthy children (aged 1-6
years) attending daycare centers were randomly assigned to receive milk
with or without
Lactobacillus GG for seven months over the winter. Results
suggested that
L. GG provided statistically significant support for
respiratory health.2 In another study, 201 healthy infants
attending daycare centers were randomly assigned to receive, in
double-blind fashion, a formula supplemented with
B. lactis,
L. reuteri, or no probiotics for 12 weeks. Probiotic
supplementation indicated statistically significant support for overall
health, immune function and GI comfort.3*
Supplementation with select probiotic strains have also been found to
promote dental health in children. In one study, 594 children were
randomly assigned to receive milk that did or did not contain
L. GG.
Researchers reported that probiotic supplementation provided
statistically significant support for dental health; the beneficial
effect was most pronounced in children three to four years of age. L. GG may work in
part by moderating the growth of
Streptococcus mutans.4 The strain
Streptococcus salivarius K12 has been shown to persist in
the oral cavity for as long as three weeks after oral administration as
a lozenge5, which raises the possibility that this strain may
be able to promote dental health by competing with other oral bacteria.
In addition, S. salivarius K12
has been reported to help protect ear and throat health.6*
Based on the available evidence, probiotic supplementation in children
appears to be a worthwhile strategy to help promote overall good health.
A wide range of probiotic strains have been investigated in multiple
clinical trials and results suggest that the efficacy of different
strains may differ depending on the health condition. Additional
research is needed to further explore these specific benefits.
References:
- Kotowska M, Albrecht P, Szajewska H. Saccharomyces boulardii in the
prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in children: a randomized
double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Aliment Pharmacol Ther
2005;21:583-590.
- Hatakka K, Savilahti E, Ponka A, et al. Effect of long term consumption
of probiotic milk on infections in children attending day care centres:
double-blind, randomised trial. BMJ 2001;322:1327-1329.
- Weizman Z, Asli G, Alsheikh A. Effect of a probiotic infant formula on
infections in child care centers: comparison of two probiotic agents.
Pediatrics 2005;115:5-9.
- Nase
L, Hatakka K, Savilahti E, et al. Effect of long-term consumption of a
probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, in milk on dental
caries and caries risk in children. Caries Res 2001;35:412-420.
- Horz
HP, Meinelt A, Houben B, Conrads G. Distribution and persistence of
probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 in the human oral cavity as
determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Oral
Microbiol Immunol 2007;22:126-30.
- Cosseau , Devine DA, Dullaghan E, et al. The commensal Streptococcus salivarius K12 downregulates the innate
immune responses of human epithelial cells and promotes host-microbe
homeostasis. Infect Immun 2008;76:4163-4175.
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Boomers and
recessionary fears drive supplement growth
By Stephen Daniells, 31-Aug-2010
Economic uncertainty and concerns over healthcare costs are
driving growth in the nutritional supplements, with the market
expected to hit almost $10billion in retail sales.
According to an updated report by Packaged Facts, growth of
the US nutritional supplements market has increased by from 5.5
percent in 2007 to 9.5 percent in 2009. Retail sales, dominated by
Walmart, were worth $9.4 billion last year, said the report.
While many segments of the US economy have suffered during the
economic downturn, the US nutritional supplement market remains
strong. Packaged Facts forecasts annual sales growth will
gradually improve over the new few years with sales exceeding the
$13 billion by 2014. Baby Boomers and other health conscious
consumers continue to favor supplements as alternatives to costly
medications.
“Part of the resiliency of nutritional supplements during
this trying economic period stems from the fact that Americans are
losing confidence in their ability to pay for healthcare, even as
the economy shows signs of turning around,” said Don Montuori,
publisher of Packaged Facts. “Compared to doctors
visits, hospital stays, and prescription drugs, nutritional
supplements can be a bargain.”
Report facts
Nutritional Supplements in the U.S., 4th Edition by market
research publisher Packaged Facts, examines the US market for
vitamins, minerals, herbals, homeopathics and combination products
sold to consumers through the full retail spectrum. The report also
takes an in-depth look at condition-specific products in segments
including joint, children’s, eye, energy, heart, men’s, women’s,
brain, digestive and cosmetic.
According to a Packaged Facts Internet survey conducted in May
and June 2010, more consumers are purchasing their supplements from
Walmart. Of the 1,881 adults polled, 63 percent said they had taken
nutritional supplements in the last 12 months, and of that group, 43
percent had purchased supplements at Walmart.
Another big growth area is the purchase of supplements via the
internet. The online consumer pool also revealed that 26 percent of
supplement users purchased vitamin, mineral, or supplement products
online.
Support from the herbal sector
Similar findings were recently reported by the American Botanical
Council (ABC) in May, with US sales of herbal supplements in
mainstream market channels last year seeing the largest growth
levels in recent memory.
A report in the May issue of ABC’s journal HerbalGram
identified a 14 percent sales hike in this channel, to reach a total
of $335,585,700 for 2009.
When other market channels are included in the equation, the
overall all sales increase dips to 5 percent, with total estimated
sales of just over $5 billion.
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