Science says that using probiotics can help prevent these illnesses in children
By now it’s well established that taking a probiotic every day helps restore balance to the bacteria in your gut, assisting with gastrointestinal complaints like constipation, diarrhoea, bloating and other uncomfortable conditions that affect your gut. But research shows that probiotics can also help prevent other illnesses and alleviate symptoms associated with various ailments, especially in children.
If you’re looking for an easy way to help your kids get through winter with as few sick days as possible, probiotics might just be the answer! Here’s what the research says about probiotics and your children’s health.
Respiratory tract infections
If you have children, you know just how often they seem to get respiratory tract infections, especially once they start going to school or day care. Because of their immature immune systems, kids are particularly susceptible to these kinds of infections and parents are always on the lookout for ways to prevent as many coughs, colds and sore throats as possible.
Several studies show that probiotic supplementation lowers the number of upper respiratory tract infections in children, leading researchers to conclude that “probiotics could have a place in the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections”.[1]
One study of children between 3 and 36 months old who attended day care centres found that children who took a daily Lactobacillus reuteri supplement had significantly fewer respiratory tract infections – and when they did have these types of infections, they were shorter.[2] These children also visited the doctor less and their parents had to take less time off work.
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea can be caused by all sorts of things, but when it occurs in young children, it’s always a cause for concern. Whether you want to reduce your kids’ chances of experiencing diarrhoea associated with antibiotics or from tummy bugs, Lactobacillus reuteri has a role to play.
In one study, babies who didn’t receive Lactobacillus reuteri supplements experienced far more episodes of diarrhoea than babies who did.[3] And another shows that children at day care centres are less likely to contract diarrhoea when they take probiotics every day.[4] When they’re taken with antibiotics, research results clearly show that probiotics are effective at preventing and treating antibiotic associated diarrhoea.[5]
Allergic disorders
Probiotics can help to restore your normal gut micro ecology, improve the immune function of your gut and in this way reduce inflammation associated with allergies or immune reactions.[6]
Studies show that Lactobacillus reuteri (that’s the good bacteria found in all Reuterina products) modulates the immune response in allergic children with asthma and also offers benefits with vitamin D in children undergoing immunotherapy.[7]
Antibiotic use
Having to give your kids antibiotics is never pleasant, so we’re thrilled to find out that studies show that daily probiotic supplementation can also reduce antibiotic use in children and babies.[8] In fact, this research is so promising that a recent study suggests that using probiotics to reduce secondary infections and antibiotic prescriptions may be key to reducing antibiotic resistance and the rise of ‘super bugs’![9]
https://www.all4women.co.za/2027962/parenting/parenting-articles/science-says-that-using-probiotics-can-help-prevent-these-illnesses-in-children
If you’re looking for an easy way to help your kids get through winter with as few sick days as possible, probiotics might just be the answer! Here’s what the research says about probiotics and your children’s health.
Respiratory tract infections
If you have children, you know just how often they seem to get respiratory tract infections, especially once they start going to school or day care. Because of their immature immune systems, kids are particularly susceptible to these kinds of infections and parents are always on the lookout for ways to prevent as many coughs, colds and sore throats as possible.
Several studies show that probiotic supplementation lowers the number of upper respiratory tract infections in children, leading researchers to conclude that “probiotics could have a place in the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections”.[1]
One study of children between 3 and 36 months old who attended day care centres found that children who took a daily Lactobacillus reuteri supplement had significantly fewer respiratory tract infections – and when they did have these types of infections, they were shorter.[2] These children also visited the doctor less and their parents had to take less time off work.
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea can be caused by all sorts of things, but when it occurs in young children, it’s always a cause for concern. Whether you want to reduce your kids’ chances of experiencing diarrhoea associated with antibiotics or from tummy bugs, Lactobacillus reuteri has a role to play.
In one study, babies who didn’t receive Lactobacillus reuteri supplements experienced far more episodes of diarrhoea than babies who did.[3] And another shows that children at day care centres are less likely to contract diarrhoea when they take probiotics every day.[4] When they’re taken with antibiotics, research results clearly show that probiotics are effective at preventing and treating antibiotic associated diarrhoea.[5]
Allergic disorders
Probiotics can help to restore your normal gut micro ecology, improve the immune function of your gut and in this way reduce inflammation associated with allergies or immune reactions.[6]
Studies show that Lactobacillus reuteri (that’s the good bacteria found in all Reuterina products) modulates the immune response in allergic children with asthma and also offers benefits with vitamin D in children undergoing immunotherapy.[7]
Antibiotic use
Having to give your kids antibiotics is never pleasant, so we’re thrilled to find out that studies show that daily probiotic supplementation can also reduce antibiotic use in children and babies.[8] In fact, this research is so promising that a recent study suggests that using probiotics to reduce secondary infections and antibiotic prescriptions may be key to reducing antibiotic resistance and the rise of ‘super bugs’![9]
https://www.all4women.co.za/2027962/parenting/parenting-articles/science-says-that-using-probiotics-can-help-prevent-these-illnesses-in-children
