The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of probiotics (popularly referred to as 'live active culture' or 'good bacteria') in preventing illnesses and consequent absences from school/daycare centers of children two to four years old that attend daycare at least 3 days per week. Two yogurt drinks will be administered, one containing a specific strain of probiotic, Bb-12. It is hypothesized that children receiving the Bb-12 drink will experience fewer illnesses and absences from daycare. In this study, participants will be asked to: 1. Give their child 4 oz. of the test yogurt each day for 90 days 2. Keep a daily diary of their child's health 3. Collect 3 stool samples from their child at the start, middle, and end of the study 4. Speak with research personnel on a bi-weekly basis regarding their child's health 5. Ensure that their child to consume any yogurts or probiotic-containing products for 110 days of the study
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
190
10\^9 CFU Bb-12 per 4 oz yogurt
yogurt identical to intervention yogurt, only without Bb-12 added.
Georgetown University Department of Family Medicine, Research Division
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
To determine if consumption of a yogurt drink containing Bb-12 decreases the number of absences children have from daycare/school due to illness
Time frame: 90 days
Determine if the yogurt supplemented with Bb-12 results in overall improved parental satisfaction due to decreased illnesses in children attending daycare/school
Time frame: 90
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