PROBIOTICS FOR USE IN REDUCING THE INCIDENCE AND DURATION OF ILLNESS
The present invention provides probiotic compositions suitable for reducing the incidence and duration of human illness. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions suitable for preventing disease in young children. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the present invention finds use in the prevention respiratory disease in children.
1 . A culture of L. acidophilus for use in reducing respiratory disease in a child wherein said culture of L. acidophilus is suitable for administration to said child, the child being at risk of developing respiratory disease.
2 . A culture of L. acidophilus strain for use in reducing the symptoms of respiratory disease in a child, wherein said culture of L. acidophilus is suitable for administration to said child at risk of developing respiratory disease, wherein said symptoms of respiratory disease comprise at least one of coughing and runny nose.
3 . The culture of claim 1 , wherein said culture further comprises at least one additional bacterial strain.
4 . The culture of claim 3 , wherein said additional bacterial strain is B. lactis.
5 . The culture of claim 4 , wherein the B. lactis strain is B. lactis Bi-07.
6 . The culture of claim 1 , wherein said child is of preschool age.
7 . The culture of claim 1 , wherein said culture is for administration during the fall or winter months.
8 . The culture of claim 1 , wherein said culture is for administration to said child by mouth.
9 . The culture of claim 1 , wherein said culture is provided in a nutritional supplement.
10 . The culture of claim 1 , wherein said cultured reduces the need for antimicrobial administration to treat said respiratory disease in said child.
11 . The culture of claim 1 , wherein said culture prevents absenteeism due to said respiratory disease by said child.
12 . A method of treatment for reducing respiratory disease in a child comprising administering a culture of L. acidophilus to said child, the child being at risk of developing symptoms of respiratory disease.
13 . A method of treatment for reducing respiratory disease in a child comprising administering a culture of L. acidophilus to said child at risk of developing symptoms of respiratory disease.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said culture further comprises at least one additional bacterial strain.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said additional bacterial strain is B. lactis.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the B. lactis strain is B. lactis Bi-07.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said child is of preschool age.
18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said culture is for administration during the fall or winter months.
19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said culture is administered to said child by mouth.
20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said culture is provided in a nutritional supplement.
21 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said cultured reduces the need for antimicrobial administration to treat said respiratory disease in said child.
22 . The method of claim 13 , wherein administering said culture reduces absenteeism due to said respiratory disease by said child.
23 . The method of treatment for reducing the symptoms of respiratory disease in a child comprising administering a culture of L. acidophilus to said child at risk of developing symptoms of respiratory disease, wherein said symptoms of respiratory disease comprise at least one of coughing and runny nose.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said culture further comprises at least one additional bacterial strain.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein said additional bacterial strain is B. lactis.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the B. lactis strain is B. lactis Bi-07.
27 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said child is of preschool age.
28 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said culture is for administration during the fall or winter months.
29 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said culture is administered to said child by mouth.
30 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said culture is provided in a nutritional supplement.
31 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said cultured reduces the need for antimicrobial administration to treat said respiratory disease in said child.
32 . The method of claim 23 , wherein administering said culture reduces absenteeism due to said respiratory disease by said child.