Results from a randomized, controlled pilot study in 76 infants with acute
diarrhoea show that rapid diagnostic testing and Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis
supplementation for 60 days was associated with a significant increase in 60-day
adjusted standardized height and significantly less recurrent diarrhoea compared
to standard care and placebo treatment. The study was conducted in Botswana and
the preliminary results were presented at the Infectious Disease Week in San
Diego, USA, on October 10 2015.
“These results are very exciting. Our trial has shown that the administration of
L. reuteri DSM 17938 shows real promise to mitigate the devastating effects of
diarrhoeal disease in sub-Saharan Africa. Previous probiotic trials have focused
on outcomes such as duration of diarrhoea, which are somewhat relevant for
families and clinicians, but not nearly as important as a hard outcome such as
standardized height, which has been directly linked to stunting, cognitive
deficiencies, and eventual adult accomplishment”, says Associate Professor
Jeffrey Pernica at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Canada, who
conducted the study.
Diarrhoea kills and disables children
Diarrhoea is the second leading cause of mortality in the world among children
under the age of five, as well as a major cause of both growth failure and
delayed cognitive development. There is a clear need for improvements in
diarrhoeal disease management in resource-limited settings.
The pilot study demonstrated that the use of rapid enteric diagnostics
(permitting timely targeted antimicrobial therapy) and L. reuteri Protectis were
both feasible in a resource-limited sub-Saharan African context. These
interventions led to significant increases in growth and decreases in recurrent
diarrhoea. The next step will be to validate these findings in a trial with a
much larger number of children.
“In Botswana, as well as other sub-Saharan countries, long periods of diarrhoea
not only causes death but also leads to stunting and cognitive impairments. The
results from this pilot study are therefore very encouraging as they indicate
that our L. reuteri Protectis could contribute, both in the short as well as in
the long perspective, to a better quality of life in these exposed children”,
says Peter Rothschild, President, BioGaia.
The preliminary results of the study were presented at the Infectious Disease
Week. (https://idsa.confex.com/idsa/2015/webprogram/Paper52622.html) Study facts
are found
here (http://www.biogaia.com/sites/biogaia.com/files/Study_facts_Pernica_2015.pd
f
).
Latest press releases from BioGaia
2015-09-07 BioGaia to invest further in Infant Bacterial Therapeutics AB
2015-08-18 BioGaia AB Interim Report 1 January-30 June 2015
2015-07-30 BioGaia’s oral health probiotic reduces Candida in the elderly
BioGaia has published this information in accordance with the Swedish Securities
Market Act. The information was issued for publication on 12 October 2015, 12:00
pm CET.
For additional information please contact
Peter Rothschild, Chief Executive Officer, BioGaia: 46 8 555 293 00
BioGaia is a healthcare company that develops, markets and sells probiotic
products with documented health benefits. The products are primarily based on
the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri, which has probiotic, health
-enhancing effects. The class B share of the Parent Company BioGaia AB is quoted
on the Mid Cap list of the NASDAQ OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm. www.biogaia.com
