BioGaia AB: New study published: Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis effective in infants with chronic constipation

July 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Constipated infants supplemented with L. reuteri Protectis had a significantly higher
frequency of bowel movements compared to the placebo group. Stool consistency improved
significantly in the L. reuteri Protectis group, although no significant difference was
seen compared to placebo.
- This is the first study to show that L. reuteri has positive effects on infants
suffering from chronic constipation, says Professor Annamaria Staiano, Department of
Pediatrics, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.

In the double-blind, placebo-controlled study 44 infants with confirmed chronic
functional constipation were randomly assigned to treatment with either L. reuteri
Protectis drops (DSM 17938, 10^8 CFU/day) or placebo for eight weeks. Outcome measures
included frequency of bowel movements per week, stool consistency and presence of
inconsolable crying episodes.

Treatment success was defined as equal to or more than three bowel movements per week.
At week two the success rate was 91 % in the L. reuteri Protectis group compared to 59 %
in the placebo group. At week four the figures were 100 % and 68 % respectively and at
week eight 100 % in the probiotic group and 73 % in the placebo group.

Stool consistency improved significantly in the L. reuteri Protectis group during the
treatment, from 86 % reported as hard at baseline to 50 % at week two and 18 % at weeks
four and eight. However, there were no significant differences in stool consistency
between the L. reuteri Protectis and placebo groups at any of the measuring points. No
differences were observed in crying behaviour between the groups at any time point,
which was expected since this population was too old to display colic.

- The results of the study again show the positive effect of L. reuteri Protectis on
infant gut function and further strengthens BioGaia’s position in the infant segment,
says Eamonn Connolly, Senior Vice President Research at BioGaia.

The study was published online on the 14th of June 2010 in the Journal of Pediatrics:

http://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(10)00385-9/abstract

For additional information contact:
Annamaria Staiano, MD, Department of Pediatrics, University Federico II:
staiano@unina.it
Eamonn Connolly, Senior Vice President Research, BioGaia: +46 8-555 293 00 or
ec@biogaia.se

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Acupuncture ‘an effective treatment for post-viral infection loss of smell’

April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Apr 1 (ANI): Traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) may be an effective treatment option for patients who suffer from persistent post- viral olfactory dysfunction (PVOD), say scientists.

In the procedure, very thin needles are used to stimulate specific points in the body to elicit beneficial therapeutic responses.

The finding of the study has been published in the April 2010 issue of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.

Olfactory dysfunction can arise from a variety of causes and can profoundly influence a patient”s quality of life. The sense of smell determines the flavor of foods and beverages and also serves as an early warning system for the detection of environmental hazards, such as spoiled food, leaking natural gas, smoke, or airborne pollutants. The loss or distortions of smell sensation can adversely influence food preference, food intake, and appetite.

One of the most frequent causes of loss of smell in adults is an upper respiratory tract infection (URI). Patients usually complain of smell loss following a viral URI. The smell loss is most commonly partial, and reversible. However, occasionally patients may also present with parosmia (a distortion of the sense of smell), phantosmia (smelling things that aren”t there), or permanent damage of the olfactory system.

In the current study, 15 patients presenting to an outpatient clinic with PVOD were treated by TCA in 10 weekly 30-minute sessions. Subjective olfactometry was performed using the Sniffin” Sticks test set. Treatment success was defined as an increase of at least six points in the sticks test scores. The effects of TCA were compared to matched pairs of people suffering from PVOD who had been treated with vitamin B complex. Eight patients treated with TCA improved olfactory function, compared with two treated with vitamin B complex.

The authors concluded “…the observed high response rate of about 50 percent under TCA was superior to that of vitamin B complex or that of spontaneous remission, and offers a possible new therapeutic regimen in postviral dysosmia.”(ANI)

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