The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of 12-week probiotic supplementation on the incidence and duration of infectious episodes in infants aged 6 to 12 months.
Probiotics are live bacteria that offer a health benefit to the host when administered via the diet in adequate amounts. Probiotic supplementation is safe for use in infants to the elderly and has demonstrated beneficial effects for a wide variety of health conditions such as acute diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, allergies, and inflammatory bowel disease. The immune-enhancing benefits of probiotics are attractive, particularly for infants, a group that is particularly prone to a variety of infections, e.g. respiratory tract infection, strep throat, and diarrhea. Probiotic supplementation has been utilized in previous studies of childhood infections with promising results. In this study, the safety and effectiveness of 12-week probiotic supplementation on the incidence and duration of infectious episodes in infants aged 6 to 12 months will be determined. The subjects will receive follow-on formula containing 1 million CFU/g Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 (trademarked DR20), 1 million CFU/g Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 (trademarked DR10), or placebo formula for at least three feeds per day for 12 weeks.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
192
Shanghai Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China
The proportion of subjects with one or more of confirmed bacterial or viral infections at any time during the study
The primary endpoint of this clinical trial is the proportion of subjects with one or more of the following confirmed bacterial or viral infections at any time during the study: fever \> 37.5ºC (axillary), upper respiratory tract infection, lower respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, strep throat, diarrhea, and otitis media.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Cumulative days with infectious symptoms
Cumulative number of days with infectious symptoms will be defined as the total number of days during the study on which a subject has symptoms of a confirmed infection. Confirmed infections that count toward the primary endpoint include: fever \>37.5°C (axillary), upper respiratory tract infection, lower respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, strep throat, diarrhea, and otitis media.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Cumulative number of infectious episodes
Cumulative number of infectious episodes will be defined as the total number of infectious episodes (defined as presence of one of more symptoms of a confirmed infection) experienced during the study. An infectious episode will be defined as a period when symptoms of a confirmed infection last for more than 24 hours and are followed by at least 3 days of no symptoms.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Stool frequency
Parents will record the number of infant defecations each day in a diary during the 12-week supplementation period.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Stool Consistency
Parents will rate the consistency of each infant bowel movement by using the Bristol Stool Scale Form. Parents will record stool consistency each day during the 12-week supplementation period.
Time frame: 12 weeks
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Infant Characteristics Questionnaire
The Infant Characteristic Questionnaire for infants approximately 6 months old (ICQ-6) measures parental perception of infant temperament, focusing on difficult temperament 8. The questionnaire is comprised of 24 items describing infant behavior. The parent or primary caregiver ranks each item on a 7-point scale, indicating the level of perceived difficulty in dealing with the described behavior. Four subscales have been identified through principal components analyses: Fussy/Difficult, Unadaptable, Dull, and Unpredictable.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Treatments for infectious episodes
Treatments that are taken to alleviate infectious symptoms will be documented in a daily diary.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Adverse events
Adverse events will be recorded in the daily diary and at study visits during the 12-week supplementation period.
Time frame: 12 weeks