There is a growing awareness that supplementation with probiotic bacteria can impart beneficial effects during gastrointestinal disease, but less is known about the impact of probiotics on healthy subjects.

A previous exploratory study demonstrated the ability of the Lab4 probiotic to alleviate the symptoms of IBS, and post hoc data analysis indicated greatest improvements in the female subgroup.

Gut microbiome manipulation to alter the gut-lung axis may potentially protect humans against respiratory infections, and clinical trials of probiotics show promise in this regard in healthy adults and children.

This 9-month randomised, parallel, double-blind, single-centre, placebo-controlled study (PROBE, ISRCTN18030882) assessed the impact of probiotic supplementation on bodyweight.

In a double-blind, randomised, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study, healthy school children aged 3-10 years received a probiotic based supplement daily for 6 months to assess the impact on the incidence and duration of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms.

In an exploratory, block-randomised, parallel, double-blind, single-centre, placebo-controlled superiority study (ISRCTN12562026, funded by Cultech Ltd), 220 Bulgarian participants (30 to 65 years old) with BMI 25–34.9kg/m2 received Lab4P probiotic (50 billion/day) or a matched placebo for 6 months.

We hypothesized that probiotic supplementation (PRO) increases the absorption and oxidation of orally ingested maltodextrin during 2 h endurance cycling, thereby sparing muscle glycogen for a subsequent time trial (simulating a road race).

To evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation on gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, circulatory markers of GI permeability, damage, and markers of immune response during a marathon race.

Gastrointestinal (GI) ischemia during exercise is associated with luminal permeability and increased systemic lipopolysaccharides (LPS). This study aimed to assess the impact of a multistrain pro/prebiotic/antioxidant intervention on endotoxin unit levels and GI permeability in recreational athletes.

Objective: To evaluate a multistrain, high-dose probiotic in the prevention of eczema. Design: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial. Settings: Antenatal clinics, research clinic, children at home.

This pilot study investigates the efficacy of a probiotic consortium (Lab4) in combination with vitamin C on the prevention of respiratory tract infections in children attending preschool facilities.

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of daily probiotic supplementation upon the immune profile of healthy participants by the assessment of ex vivo cytokine production.

Lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria are increasingly being administered to pregnant women and infants with the intention of improving health. Although these organisms have a long record of safe use, it is important to identify any adverse effects in potentially vulnerable populations.

The Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) are important components of the healthy gut flora and have been used extensively as probiotics. Understanding the cultivable diversity of LAB before and after probiotic administration, and being able to track the fate of administered probiotic isolates during feeding are important parameters to consider in the design of clinical trials to assess probiotic efficacy.

The efficacy of probiotics in alleviating the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) appears to be both strain- and dose-related.

In this pilot-scale, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 30 patients with Helicobacter pylori infection were randomised into three groups prior to their 7 days eradication therapy, to study the effects of probiotic supplement comprising Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum on the intestinal microflora in response to antibiotic therapy.

The effects of probiotic supplementation on the intestinal re-growth microbiota following antibiotic therapy were studied in a double-blind placebo-controlled study.