A Study to Assess the Effect of a Probiotic on Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Healthy Children

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Upper Respiratory Tract Infections; Upper Resp Tract Infection
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Probiotic; Dietary Supplement: Placebo

• Registration Number: NCT05577065
• Lead Sponsor: The Archer-Daniels-Midland Company

Brief Summary

This study evaluates the efficacy of a single strain probiotic on the incidence, duration and severity of upper respiratory tract infections in healthy, school-age children.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-09-29
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-10-10
• Study First Posted: 2022-10-13
• Study Start: 2023-01-30
• Primary Completion: 2024-03-13
• Study Completion: 2024-03-13
• Status Verified: 2024-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-08
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 200

Inclusion Criteria

1. Have a parent/guardian able to give written informed consent.
2. If ≥7 years, be able to give written informed assent.
3. Healthy children aged 2 - 8 years old.
4. In general good health, as determined by the investigator.
5. Attending a registered childcare provider or school.
6. Willing to consume the study product daily for the duration of the study.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Has URTI symptoms at the time of randomisation.
2. Are <2 or ≥9 years old.
3. Diagnosed with concomitant chronic infections, chronic systemic diseases, autoimmune diseases (e.g. asthma - generally only formally diagnosed after child is 6 years), immunodeficiency, metabolic diseases, chronic respiratory tract diseases including respiratory allergies and cystic fibrosis or congenital cardiac defects.
4. Has a family household member that smokes cigarettes in the home.
5. Has taken antibiotics within the previous 2 weeks prior to randomisation.
6. Has taken probiotic supplements within the previous 2 weeks prior to randomisation
7. Daily intake of immune stimulating products, including but not limited to echinacea, vitamin C and zinc in the 2 weeks before randomisation (multivitamins allowed).
8. Has any significant health conditions that would prevent them from fulfilling the study requirements, put the Participant at risk or would confound the interpretation of the study results as judged by the investigator on the basis of medical history and routine laboratory test results.
9. Taking a medication that the investigator believes would interfere with the objectives of the study or pose a safety risk or confound the interpretation of the study results.
10. Has an active gastrointestinal disorder or previous gastrointestinal surgery (appendicectomy allowed).
11. Has a gastrointestinal or chronic infective disease (i.e., coeliac disease, diarrhoea, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis, stomach or duodenal ulcers, hepatitis, HIV, cancer, etc.), or with a history of such diseases.
12. Planned extensive travel (for >1 month) during the study duration.
13. Parent/guardian who, in the opinion of the investigator, are considered to be poor attendees or unlikely for any reason to be able to comply with the study.
14. Participants may not be receiving treatment involving experimental drugs. If the Participant has been in a recent experimental trial/study, these must have been completed not less than 60 days prior to this study.
15. Any Participant who is the child of an employee of the study site or an Atlantia Clinical Trials employee or their close family member or a member of their household.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Active	Probiotic	Arm receiving investigational product (probiotic)
Placebo	Placebo	Arm receiving placebo

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Effect of 26 week consumption of probiotic on the total number of days that, otherwise healthy, children suffer from upper respiratory tract infection (URTI)	Entire follow up period (total of 180 days)	Presence of an URTI defined by a score of \>2 on the Jackson Cold Scale (maximum score 3) where a lower score means better outcomes compared to baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Effect of 26 week consumption of probiotic on Salivary Immunoglobulin A levels (IgA) (mg/dL)	Day 0, Day 180	Measured via saliva sample
Effect of 26 week consumption of probiotic on the incidence of gastrointestinal infections	Day 0, Day 90, Day 180	Recorded through the WURSS-K questionnaire (Maximum score 42) where a lower score means better outcomes compared to baseline
Effect of 26 week consumption of probiotic on the average duration of URTIs reported by participants	Day 0, Day 90, Day 180	Duration of URTI measured through the WURSS-K questionnaire (Maximum score 42) where a lower score means better outcomes compared to baseline
Effect of 26 week consumption of probiotic on the total number of reported missed days of school/childcare due to illness	Day 0, Day 90, Day 180	Recorded through the WURSS-K questionnaire (Maximum score 42) where a lower score means better outcomes compared to baseline
Effect of 26 week consumption of probiotic on the reported incidence of antibiotic use	Day 0, Day 90, Day 180	Recorded through the WURSS-K questionnaire (Maximum score 42) where a lower score means better outcomes compared to baseline
Effect of 26 week consumption of probiotic on the number of children reporting at least one URTI	Day 0, Day 90, Day 180	The presence of an URTI defined by a score of \>2 on the Jackson Cold Scale (maximum score 3) where a lower score means better outcomes compared to baseline
Effect of 26 week consumption of probiotic on the severity of URTI-related symptoms reported by participants	Day 0, Day 90, Day 180	Severity of URTI measured through the WURSS-K questionnaire (Maximum score 42) where a lower score means better outcomes compared to baseline

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Atlantia Food Clinical Trials; 🇮🇪 Cork, Ireland