Probiotics Improve Lung Health in Physically Healthy Adults

by | Nov 19, 2013 | 2013, Probiotics, Respiratory Health

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Taking a probiotic daily reduced the risk of upper respiratory tract infection by 27%. 

Upper respiratory tract infections, mostly the common cold, are associated with significant economic costs (1). Most adults contract 2 to 3 colds per year compared to 4 to 6 colds among the young and elderly (2), all of which cost an estimated $25 billion per year to our healthcare system (3).

Now a new study (4) suggests that probiotic supplementation may benefit respiratory health even in physically healthy adults. In the study, 465 subjects between the ages of 23 and 47 (241 males, 244 females) were assigned to 1 of 3 groups for 150 days:

  • Group 1: 2 billion colony-forming units per day of the probiotics Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis
  • Group 2: 5 billion colony-forming units per day of the probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis
  • Group 3: Placebo mixed in a drink (control group)

Each subject completed a web-based physical activity and illness questionnaire throughout the study (5), including at day 0, day 75 and day 150 where they completed the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale questionnaire (6).

After 150 days, the researchers found those in group 1 had a 27% reduced risk of an upper respiratory tract infection compared to the placebo group (p = 0.022). No significant difference was seen between group 2 and the placebo group (p = 0.15). While those in group 1 also had a 28% longer time to the first upper respiratory traction infection compared to the placebo group (3.2 vs. 2.5 months, p = 0.10) and those in group 2 had a 36% longer time to the first infection compared to the placebo group (3.4 vs. 2.5 months, p = 0.14), these results did not reach statistical significance.

When looking at specifics of respiratory tract infection, non-significant improvements were observed for both groups compared to placebo (Group 1 = 12% fewer single episodes (59 vs. 67, p = 0.14) and 28.4% fewer recurrent episodes (43 vs. 60, p value not given), Group 2 = 18% fewer single episodes (55 vs. 67, p= 0.09) and 8.4% fewer recurrent episodes (55 vs. 60, p value not given)).

Overall, it was the 27% reduced risk of upper respiratory tract infections that reached statistical significance when comparing probiotic strains to the placebo group.  Citing previous research showing the benefits of using multiple probiotics strains to improve respiratory health (7, 8), the researchers concluded that “The probiotic [containing 2 billion colony forming units per day of the probiotics Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis] appears to be a useful nutritional supplement in reducing the risk of upper respiratory tract infections in healthy physically-active adults.”

Source: West, Nicholas P., et al. “Probiotic supplementation for respiratory and gastrointestinal illness symptoms in healthy physically active individuals.” Clinical nutrition 33.4 (2014): 581-587.

© 2013 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism

Posted November 19, 2013.

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com

References:

  1. Britt H, Miller GC, Charles J, Henderson J, Bayram C, Pan Y, et al. General practice activity in Australia 2009e10. General practice series no. 27; 2010
  2. Moyad MA. Conventional and alternative medical advice for cold and flu prevention: what should be recommended and what should be avoided? Urol Nurs 2009 NoveDec;29(6):455e8.
  3. Bramley TJ.  Productivity losses related to the common cold. J Occup Environ Med 2002 Sep;44(9):822-9
  4. West NP, et al., Probiotic supplementation for respiratory and gastrointestinal illness symptoms in healthy physically active individuals, Clinical Nutrition 2013.  Published online ahead of print.
  5. West NP, Pyne DB, Cripps AW, Hopkins WG, Eskesen DC, Jairath A, et al. Lactobacillus fermentum (PCC(R)) supplementation and gastrointestinal and respiratory-tract illness symptoms: a randomised control trial in athletes. Nutr J 2011;10:30.
  6. Campbell-Sills L, Stein MB. Psychometric analysis and refinement of the connor-davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC): validation of a 10-item measure of resilience. J Trauma Stress 2007 Dec;20(6):1019e28.
  7. de Vrese M, Winkler P, Rautenberg P, Harder T, Noah C, Laue C, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus gasseri PA 16/8, Bifidobacterium longum SP 07/3, B. bifidum MF 20/5 on common cold episodes: a double blind, randomized, controlled trial. Clin Nutr 2005 Aug;24(4):481e91.
  8. Leyer GJ, Li S, Mubasher ME, Reifer C, Ouwehand AC. Probiotic effects on cold and influenza-like symptom incidence and duration in children. Pediatrics 2009 Aug;124(2):e172e9.