Cargill’s EpiCor postbiotic may help support immune health in children ages 4-12, according to a study conducted in partnership with KGK Science and published in the journal Pediatric Research.

“EpiCor supplementation resulted in significantly lower cold/flu symptom severity and less cold/flu medication usage than Placebo demonstrating a beneficial effect on immune function in children,” the researchers concluded.

EpiCor is backed by over 15 published studies and has been previously shown to support immune health and positively modulate the gut microbiome in adult populations.
 
“Immune health is so important to families,” said Najla Guthrie, CEO at KGK Science. “The statistically significant positive results of this study affirm EpiCor may help support immune health in younger populations and upholds the efficacy and safety of daily EpiCor supplementation in children.”

Completed during the traditional cold and flu season (September 2022 through April 2023), 256 Canadian children ages 4-12 were enrolled in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The research found that a daily dose of 500 mg of EpiCor postbiotic in a gummy format offered statistically significant benefits over placebo, including:

Caregivers of children supplemented with EpiCor reported statistically significant reductions in cold and flu symptom severity during 84 days of supplementation compared to those taking placebo (P<0.05).1

Participants supplemented with EpiCor had lower severity scores on some of the more troublesome symptoms, including “sore throat” and “muscle aches and pains” during 84 days of supplementation compared to those receiving a placebo supplement. (P≤0.05)

Supplementation with EpiCor limited the need for traditional cold and flu medication. In the study, children who received placebo were nearly two times (1.7) more likely to use prescription or over-the-counter medications over the 84-day study period compared to those supplemented with EpiCor.

Daily supplementation of 500 mg of EpiCor was safe and well tolerated in a population of healthy children ages 4-12.

Cargill noted the study was conducted using a gummy supplement. (Cargill’s initial scientific literature review suggested fewer than 15 studies have used gummies as a format; of these, only five were in children.)

The study is believed to be the first peer-reviewed published study to test a postbiotic in a gummy supplement.

“With a strong history of clinical success, this new research on immune support in children continues to underscore Cargill’s unwavering commitment to developing science-backed solutions that aim to positively impact people’s health and wellness across all life stages,” said Justin Green, PhD, director of scientific affairs at Cargill. “By affirming EpiCor’s efficacy in a gummy, we’re also responding to consumer preferences for alternative supplement formats.”