L. Bulgaricus Reduces Common Colds in Elderly

Consumption of a yogurt containing the probiotic L. bulgaricus might significantly reduce your chance of getting the common cold, according to research published in the October issue of the British Journal of Nutrition.

Scientists at Meiji Dairies Corporation in Kanagawa, Japan tested the effects of daily consumption of 90 g of yogurt containing Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus OLL1073R-1 versus 100 ml of control milk in elderly subjects in two similar studies.

The first study included 57 subjects at an average age of 75 years and the second study included 85 subjects at an average age of 68 years. Over 8 to 12 weeks, incidence of common cold along with levels of natural killer cells were recorded in each subject. Natural killer cells have been reported to directly correlate to incidence of common cold in humans.

Subjects who consumed the probiotic yogurt exhibited both significantly higher natural killer cell activity and a 260% reduced chance of catching a common cold, compared to subjects who consumed milk.

The research adds to a growing list of studies indicating that probiotics can have a significant influence on human immune health.