Clinical Updates
Alzheimer's
Disease
Arthritis
Asthma
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
Chronic
Lymphocytic Leukemia
Depression
Diabetes Mellitus
Dyspepsia
Erectile
Dysfunction
Fatty Liver
Gallstone
Hepatitis
Hypertension
Lung Cancer
Mesothelioma
Metabolic Syndrome
Obesity
Prostate Cancer
Stroke
Tinnitus
Medical Library
Breaking Medical News
Clinical Tools
Dermatology
Diabetes Corner
Evidence-Based Medicine
Free Medical Books
Free
Medical Journal
History Taking and Physical Examination
Medical Journal (popular)
Medical Notes
Medical Organizations
Palm Tools
Medical Physiology (Lecture)
Medical Resources
Medical Search
Online Clinical Calculator |
Lactobacillus reuteri may reduce
sick days in adults
|
Clinical Question:
Does the use of a probiotic reduce the number of sick-days?
Bottom Line:
This study provides preliminary, limited evidence for a beneficial effect of
Lactobacillus reuteri in reducing sick leave among healthy adults. The
sponsorship (and authorship) by the manufacturer and the lack of
intention-to-treat analysis means that we should watch for confirmatory
studies before broadly recommending this to our patients.
Reference:
Tubelius P, Stan V, Zachrisson A. Increasing work-place healthiness with the
probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri: a randomised, double-blind,
placebo-controlled study. Environ Health 2005;4:25-30.
Study Design:
Randomized controlled trial (double-blinded)
Synopsis:
Short term illnesses, usually caused by respiratory or gastrointestinal
diseases are disruptive to productivity and there is relatively little focus
on preventative measures. This study examined the effect of the probiotic
Lactobacillus reuteri protectis (ATCC55730) on its ability to improve
work-place healthiness by reducing short term sick-leave caused by
respiratory or gastrointestinal infections. 262 employees at TetraPak in
Sweden (day-workers and three-shift-workers) that were healthy at study
start were randomised in a double-blind fashion to receive either a daily
dose of 108 Colony Forming Units of L. reuteri or placebo for 80 days. The
study products were administered with a drinking straw. 181 subjects
complied with the study protocol, 94 were randomised to receive L. reuteri
and 87 received placebo. In the placebo group 26.4% reported sick-leave for
the defined causes during the study as compared with 10.6% in the L. reuteri
group (p < 0.01). The frequency of sick-days was 0.9% in the placebo group
and 0.4% in the L. reuteri group (p < 0.01). Among the 53 shift-workers, 33%
in the placebo group reported sick during the study period as compared with
none in the L. reuteri group(p < 0.005). |
|