Probiotics 'reduce symptoms of common cold'

People taking probiotics are likely to suffer from less severe symptoms when they get a common cold, a new study has revealed.

Probiotics is the general term used to describe the millions of different "friendly" bacteria that exist in the digestive system, which are essential to human health and play an important role in the digestive and immune systems.

The study found that the length of illness was also reduced among those people taking a formula containing probiotics, vitamins and minerals, although the frequency of common cold episodes did not change significantly.

The independent clinical study was published in the journal Clinical Nutrition and the results were unveiled during an international press conference held in Malta yesterday. The trial was headed by Jeurgen Schrezenmeir, the head of the Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry on Nutrition at the Federal Research Centre of Nutrition and food in Kiel, Germany.

The study showed that participants who took a probiotic three-strain mixture were ill for an average of seven days, as opposed to 8.9 days for those in the control group.

Moreover, the patients in the probiotic group suffered from fever for around six hours compared to an average of 24 hours for those in the control group, manufacturing company Seven Seas said.

Although bacteria, including probiotics, multiply by themselves, stress, a poor diet, illness or taking antibiotics can affect the levels of probiotics in our bodies. This, it is claimed, can lead to imbalance resulting in fatigue, a feeling of being run down, digestive disorders and weakening of the immune system, making a person more susceptible to infections, especially yeast infections.

In the trial, a group of patients were given a preparation containing probiotics, vitamins and minerals while the control group was given an identical-looking tablet, but which contained only vitamins and minerals.

Speaking during the unveiling of the results yesterday, Dr Schrezenmeir said an increase in the level of specific immune cells in the probiotic group was noted.

Also present for the press conference was Stefan Henke who created the tablet, and the World Health Organisation's scientist in charge of influenza control Klaus Stöhr. Seven Seas' tablet contains a blend of three different kinds of "friendly" bacteria - Lactobacillus gasseri, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Bifidobacterium longum, apart from vitamins and minerals - which can be beneficial to health.

Of significant importance is the tablet's protective coating which does not allow the bacteria to be lost before reaching the gut.

Terry Simpson, Seven Seas' UK and international sales director, explained to The Times that the secret of the effectiveness of probiotics is to deliver them to the gut, where they are active. Otherwise they are likely to be lost in the digestive system.

The over-the-counter probiotic formula which was tested has been available in the United Kingdom since 1999.

Apart from its positive effect in the cases of a common cold, probiotics also help improve the digestive system, avoid irritable bowel syndrome and yeast infections, Mr Simpson said.