There’s no cure for the common cold, and it is not even clear it can be prevented. But a study on Chinese children suggests that giving kids beneficial bacteria may reduce their susceptibility to cold viruses. More than 300 children between three and five years of age were randomly assigned to receive three different milk formulations: plain milk, milk plus the bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus, or milk with Lactobacillus plus the bacterium Bifodobacterium animalis.
The group that just received Lactobacillus were half as likely to develop a cold and a fever. They also had fewer coughs and runny noses. Those that got both strains of probiotics had 72 percent fewer fevers. They were also less likely to come down with a cough or runny nose. If they did get sick, they got better significantly sooner. They also missed fewer days of daycare. If this research is confirmed, good bacteria may turn out to be a good defense against the common cold in children.
[Pediatrics, August, 2009]
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/124/2/e172
