The market for natural immune-boosting products has gained more attention since FDA has issued warnings about over-the-counter cough and cold medications for children under the age of four.

HOWARU Protect, a probiotic formulation from Danisco, provides a safe and effective means to enhance the body’s natural defences and has been clinically shown to reduce the incidence and severity of cold and flu symptoms in children.

A recent study entitled “Probiotic Effects on Cold and Influenza-Like Symptom Incidence and Duration in Children,” sponsored by Danisco and published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, demonstrates the benefits of the HOWARU Protect probiotic combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07 in maintaining immune health in children.

For 6 months, 326 children, aged 3 to 5, were given supplements twice a day. One group received a single strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, one group received a combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07 and a third group received a placebo.

When compared to placebo, the groups that received the single and combination probiotic supplements reduced their fever incidence by 53% and 73% respectively. Their coughing was reduced by about 41% and 62% and their runny noses were lessened by 28% and 59%. The duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms were also significantly reduced in the children receiving the probiotics. Because of their enhanced natural defences, these children had less need for prescription antibiotics and missed fewer days of childcare.