Probi May Reduce Cold Time

LUND, Sweden—An extensive clinical study found shorter common cold periods and a strong reduction of cold symptoms with the new product developed in-house by Probi. The study outcome means Probi will extend its product portfolio and enter the large market for products targeting the immune system.
“The clinical results are world class and give us a strong platform for product launches in both functional foods and dietary supplements. We will now be able to offer consumers products that improve their immune systems significantly and where they will notice a real positive difference, for instance when dealing with common colds,” said Michael Oredsson, CEO of Probi.
On behalf of Probi, Analyze & Realize conducted the placebo-controlled, randomized multicenter-study on 310 volunteers in Berlin. The study product is a combination of two new probiotic strains patented by Probi, one within the Lactobacillus plantarum family and one within the Lactobacillus paracasei family.
The severity of total cold symptoms 33 percent lower in the Probi group compared to the placebo. Furthermore, the length of cold period was significantly reduced in those receiving Probi’s product, 5.6 days compared to 6.7 days in the placebo group. There was also a trend toward a reduction in the number of cold periods for those consuming Probi’s product during the study.
Nearly 50 percent of those consuming Probi’s product considered it to be very effective, and more than 20 percent considered it effective. The corresponding assessment by those randomized to the placebo was considerably lower and almost no one in this group considered the treatment to be very effective.
By analysis at a cellular level in blood, Probi has previously seen indications that the two probiotic strains have different beneficial effects on the immune system. Certain markers were upregulated, providing a protective immune effect, and other markers were downregulated, preventing immune responses that give unpleasant symptoms.

www.Probi.se