Ingredients supplier Lallemand, the makers of the multi-strain pediatric probiotic formula Probiokid, announced the publication of a clinical review examining evidenced health benefits of the probiotic formula which covered a total of 28 studies. The review was published in the journal Nutrients on June 1.
 
The review summarizes clinical studies involving infants and children, which includes safety studies, in which the participants took a specific combination of Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52, Bifidobacterium infantis Rosell-33, Bifidobacterium bifidum Rosell-71, and fructooligosaccharides.
 
Lallemand reports that with a total of 28 clinical studies, Probiokid is the most documented probiotic formulation which can be marketed under different product categories, for different uses, depending on applicable regulatory provisions.
 
The main evidence includes: 12 studies which show that the probiotic significantly increases the efficacy of standard diarrhea treatment regardless of etiology, reducing the risk of unresolved diarrhea by 69%; 8 studies which conclude that the probiotic enhances immune defenses assessed by immunity markers (six studies) or reduced incidence of common infections (two studies); the probiotic improved iron deficiency (anemia) treatment efficacy in three studies, reducing the risk of unresolved anemia by 49% and reducing treatment side effects by 47%; and other single studies supporting further investigation into the probiotic for oral candidiasis, eczema, feeding intolerance in premature babies, or hyperbilirubinemia in newborns.
 
“Probiokid is a real superhero for infant and child immunity, proven efficient to support immune system maturation and gut microflora,” Morange Maillard, product manager, Lallemand Health Solutions, said. “This comprehensive review recaps why it has been the most popular pediatric probiotic product in the world in the last decade.”
 
In terms of the regulatory status of Probiokid, each of the single strains has been authorized for use in infant food in China, both combination and single strains have been successfully notified as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for non-exempt infant formula. In Canada, the probiotic combination has been granted the health claims “helps to reinforce the body’s natural defenses and participates to the microflora balance in children” and “could promote a favorable gut flora and is a source of probiotics from three months old babies, up to older children.”