DHA, Beta-Glucan, Prebiotics Maintain Children's Respiratory Health

EAGAN, Minn.Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), yeast beta-glucan and prebiotics help maintain children's respiratory health, according to research published in The FASEB Journal .

Consumption of a Mead Johnson milk-based childrens product by healthy children ages 3 to 4 years helped maintain respiratory health compared to results observed in healthy children consuming powdered cow milk.

Study results were presented by the Mead Johnson Pediatric Nutrition Institute at the recent Experimental Biology conference in Boston. The double-blind, randomized, controlled, 28-week study involved 310 children. Close to half (156) of the subjects were given three servings per day of a childrens product containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), yeast beta-glucan (as Wellmune from Biothera) and a prebiotic blend, while 154 subjects in the control group were given the same number and duration of cow milk servings. 

The findings underscore the importance of immune support during childhood, when the human immune system is still developing," said Richard G. Mueller, CEO, Biothera. We were pleased to see that the study results are consistent with those from numerous clinical studies conducted by Biothera among adult populations demonstrating that Wellmune WGP safely supports key immune responses that help maintain a healthy immune system."

Recent studies show using dietary supplements in food products can help consumers sustain healthy lifestyles. Past research on DHA indicates it can support infants' immune function when supplemented in formula, while beta-glucan supplemented in oat bran can lower LDL-cholesterol levels.