Probiotics may help fight symptoms of common cold

London - Probiotic supplementation was found to be effective in treating symptoms of the common cold in college students, according to a new study.

College students are notoriously sleep-deprived, live in close quarters and lead stress-filled lives, making them especially susceptible for contracting colds and upper-respiratory infections.

For these reasons, a team lead by researchers at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey–School of Health Related Professions (UMDNJ–SHRP) selected this population to study the effects of probiotic supplementation on health-related quality of life (HRQL) during the common cold.

The study, led by Registered Dietitian Tracey J. Smith, an adjunct professor at UMDNJ–SHRP, randomized 198 college students aged 18 to 25 and living on-campus in residence halls at Framingham State University in Massachusetts. Groups received either a placebo (97 students) or a powder blend containing Chr. Hansen’s probiotic strains BB-12® and LGG® (101 students) for 12 weeks. Each day, students completed a survey to assess the effect of the probiotic supplementation.

Although there have been previous studies on the effect of probiotics on the duration of colds and severity of symptoms, this is the first study to investigate the effect of probiotic strains on HRQL during upper-respiratory infections, taking into account duration, symptom severity and functional impairment—all important factors of HRQL.

The study found that while all students caught colds at roughly the same rate, the students who took the probiotic supplementation experienced:
• A duration of colds that was two days shorter (four days vs. six days)
• Symptoms that were 34 percent less severe and
• A higher quality of life that resulted in fewer missed school days (15 vs. 34 missed by students taking the placebo).

What makes probiotics so effective in treating symptoms of upper-respiratory infections?

 â€œCold symptoms like a stuffy nose and sore throat are the body’s inflammatory response toward a virus, not a direct action of the virus itself. Probiotic microorganisms may soften your immune system’s reaction by reducing your body’s inflammatory response,” explained Smith.

The Take-Away for the Public:

“If cost is not an issue, then otherwise healthy persons who are especially stressed, sleep-deprived or living in close quarters [such as a college dormitory] could supplement daily during cold season with both LGG and BB12 to improve their quality of life if/when they do get a cold,” said Smith.

However she cautions that not all probiotics are created equal.

“The study supports the combination of LGG and BB12—two very specific strains of probiotics. These two strains also are in a number of supplement-type products that are available over the counter,” she said,
“but consumers need to read the label to be sure that the product contains Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG [LGG] and Bifidobacterium animalis lactis BB12 [BB12]. There also are some yogurts that contain LGG and/or BB12 but check the labels, since companies change the probiotics strains often.”

“People should also recognize that probiotics are not for everyone. Those considering probiotic supplementation should consult with their physician first,” Smith added.

An article detailing the results of the study was published in the October 2012 issue of the British Journal of Nutrition.