Title

Safety and Tolerance Study of Three Probiotic Strains in Infants
A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Intervention Study to Assess the Safety and Tolerance Effect of Three Probiotic Strains in Infants
  • Phase

    N/A
  • Study Type

    Interventional
  • Status

    Completed No Results Posted
  • Study Participants

    221
Study to evaluate the safety and tolerance of three probiotic bacteria intake by healthy infants. Participants are divided at random and unknown to the researchers, in four groups, three of which receive one of three probiotic bacteria while the fourth group receives placebo product.
Subjects' parents or legal tutors will be contacted for voluntary participation and a written informed consent will be obtained.

The study visits will take place either in the hospital or primary health center.

During Visit 1, inclusion in- and exclusion criteria will be checked and information on demographic profile, subject characteristics, feeding option, relevant medical history, medication and nutritional supplements will be recorded. Weight and length and head circumference measurements of the infant will be made. The researcher will explain to the parents that during the first 2 weeks of participation in the study the infant must not intake any probiotic supplements (run-in ). Parents will be instructed to collect and send and/or store fecal and urine samples before starting the study. In addition they will be instructed to collect and send and/or store fecal and urine samples after the initial run-in period (2 weeks), after the product intake period (8 weeks) and after the final wash out period (2 weeks).

During Visit 2, subjects will be randomly allocated to receive either one of the test products or the placebo. Body weight and length will be measure. The researcher will review with the parents the study diary in detail, how to record data on gastrointestinal tolerance, stool frequency and stool characteristics, respiratory symptoms, diagnosed infections, sleeping and crying habits, changes in sleeping pattern, fever episodes, unscheduled visits resulting from suspected infection or a health problem and antibiotic prescription. The researcher will explain the procedure of administering the study product to the infant and anticipated phone calls. The parents will be instructed to start intake of the product as soon as possible after the collection of fecal and urine samples.

During product intake period (8 weeks) subject's parents will be called weekly by someone from the Study Team (Phone call 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). During the phone call relevant data related to possible Adverse Events (AEs) or Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) will be collected. Parents will be asked about infant's well-being (fever episodes, rashes, diarrhea, visits to the doctor, antibiotic prescription, etc.). Issues regarding diary completion, if any, will be discussed. During the Phone call 7 parents will be instructed to collect and send and/or store fecal and urine samples in one of the days prior to the third visit.

At the third visit (Visit 3, 8 weeks after product intake period), body weight and length will be measured and relevant data will be collected with respect to health and well-being aspect of the infant and AE or SAE (fever episodes, rashes, diarrhea, visits to the doctor, antibiotic prescription, etc.). Completed diaries and fecal and urine samples will be collected. Parents will be explained that for the last 2 weeks of participation in the study their infants could not intake any probiotic supplement (final wash out period). Parents will be instructed to collect and send and/or store fecal and urine samples in one of the days prior to the next visit (Visit 4).

During visit 4, after the final wash out period, body weight and length will be measured and relevant data will be collected with respect to health and well-being aspect of the infant and AEs or SAEs (fever episodes, rashes, diarrhea, visits to the doctor, antibiotic prescription, etc.). Completed diaries and samples will be collected.
Study Started
Jun 30
2014
Primary Completion
Jul 31
2015
Study Completion
Jul 31
2015
Last Update
Dec 14
2016
Estimate

Dietary Supplement Bifidobacterium longum ssp infantis R0033

12 weeks intervention study: A run-in period of two weeks, 8 weeks of intervention (from weeks 2 to 10) and two weeks after intervention finishing time. During the 8 weeks of intervention participants will intake one daily dose of the product which contains 3*10E9 colony forming units (CFU)

Dietary Supplement Lactobacillus helveticus R0052

12 weeks intervention study: A run-in period of two weeks, 8 weeks of intervention (from weeks 2 to 10) and two weeks after intervention finishing time. During the 8 weeks of intervention participants will intake one daily dose of the product which contains 3*10E9 colony forming units (CFU)

Dietary Supplement Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071

12 weeks intervention study: A run-in period of two weeks, 8 weeks of intervention (from weeks 2 to 10) and two weeks after intervention finishing time. During the 8 weeks of intervention participants will intake one daily dose of the product which contains 3*10E9 colony forming units (CFU)

Dietary Supplement Placebo

12 weeks intervention study: A run-in period of two weeks, 8 weeks of intervention (from weeks 2 to 10) and two weeks after intervention finishing time. During the 8 weeks of intervention participants will intake one daily dose of the product which contains 3*10E9 colony forming units (CFU)

Bifidobacterium longum R0033 Active Comparator

Bifidobacterium longum ssp infantis R0033, 3*10E9 colony forming units (CFU) in 1 sachet per day to be diluted in 10 mL water by mouth for eight weeks

Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 Active Comparator

Lactobacillus helveticus R0052, 3*10E9 colony forming units (CFU) in 1 sachet per day to be diluted in 10 mL water by mouth for eight weeks

Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071 Active Comparator

Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071, 3*10E9 colony forming units (CFU) in 1 sachet per day to be diluted in 10 mL water by mouth for eight weeks

Placebo Placebo Comparator

potato starch 1 sachet per day to be diluted in 10 mL water by mouth for eight weeks

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Healthy term infants between 3-12 months old
Written informed consent from at least one parent or the legal tutor.

Exclusion Criteria:

Short bowel syndrome or any GI surgery.
Impaired intestinal epithelial barrier (e.g. diarrheal illness, intestinal inflammation).
Metabolic disorders (diabetes, lactose intolerance).
Immunodeficiency.
Heart failure and cardiac medical history (e.g. artificial heart valve, medical history of infectious endocarditis, cardiac malformation, rheumatic fever).
Surgery within one month prior to inclusion (Visit 1/ week 0).
Antibiotic prescription 1 week before inclusion (Visit 1/ week 0) and during run-in period (Visit 2/ week 2).
Investigator's uncertainty about the willingness or ability of the infant's parents to comply with the protocol requirements.
Participation in any other clinical trial within two weeks prior to entry into the study.
No Results Posted