BLIS Technologies and Stratum Nutrition revealed the recent publication of a clinical study in the International Journal of General Medicine evaluating the upper respiratory immune health benefits of the probiotic, BLIS K12, in children.
 
The new results confirm and extend earlier findings in both children and adults, establishing the importance of a healthy oral cavity microbiome and demonstrating the striking benefits of BLIS K12 supplementation in improving resistance to both bacterial and viral pathogens.
 
Daily supplementation with Streptococcus salivarius BLIS K12 was tested against reducing the incidence of otitis media (middle ear infection)—a frequently encountered bacterial or viral condition in pediatric populations, affecting approximately 80% of all children at some point during childhood. A common repercussion of acute otitis media (AOM) and a lingering problem in some children is secretory otitis media (SOM), an asymptomatic inflammatory condition characterized by persistent fluid in the middle ear cavity. If left untreated it can lead to hearing-related complications.
 
In this pilot study, conducted by a Milan, Italy-based research team, 22 children ages 3-9 years old with a recent history of AOM and fluid in one or both ears for at least 2 months were selected for participation in the study. All of the children finished the study with no reported side effects. They were each administered a once daily chewable lozenge containing BLIS K12 for of 90 days. During that time period, the rate of AOM infections (number of episodes per month per child) dropped by over 40% (p<0.05) when compared to diagnosed infections from the prior 12 months. In addition, there was a 50-60% improvement in specific measurements for hearing (p<0.01) as well as an approximate 40% improvement in the appearance of the ear canal and eardrum (p<0.05), including reductions in fluid buildup in the middle ear.

The results of this study also reconfirm the excellent safety profile of BLIS K12 in children and show for the first time, a beneficial effect in children with a history of chronic middle ear asymptomatic ear infections.
 
For more information: www.stratumnutrition.com/ingredients/blis-k12