Probiotic Enriched Olive Oil
Olive oil is already good for you, but researchers in Italy felt that more could be done. Specifically, olive oil combined with probiotics might be a good method of treating dyspepsia, better known as indigestion. In a pilot study, eight individuals with dyspepsia were either given oil with probiotics or oil with extra antioxidants for seven days. At the conclusion of the study, the researchers found that while both groups had benefits, the probiotics appeared to help even more.
Help for the Common Cold?
Viruses cause upper respiratory infections. Interestingly enough, bacteria located in the nose and throat can influence the outcome of these kinds of infections. Researchers supported by the Finnish company, Valio Ltd., experimented with giving school children daily Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and determined if it lowered frequency of upper respiratory infections. While it did not lower the frequency or type of infection, probiotic supplementation did significantly lower the amount of time that the children were sick. Instead of seven days of being ill, children with probiotics recovered in six days.
No Benefit for Ear Infections
Many children develop ear infections, and it was hypothesized that supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics could prevent and/or minimize this disease in children. In a large study performed in France between 2007 and 2009, children that had previously experienced an ear infection were given a multi-strain probiotic or prebiotic. After a year, data was collected on the number of ear infections experienced and lower respiratory tract infections (infections of the lung). The probiotic/prebiotic treatments did not lead to any measurable clinical benefit.
References
- Cohen R, Martin E, de La Rocque F, Thollot F, Pecquet S, Werner A, Boucherat M, Varon E, Bingen E, Levy C. Probiotics and Prebiotics in Preventing Episodes of Acute Otitis Media in High-risk Children: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013 Aug;32(8):810-814.
- Ianiro G, Pizzoferrato M, Franceschi F, Tarullo A, Luisi T, Gasbarrini G. Effect of an extra-virgin olive oil enriched with probiotics or antioxidants on functional dyspepsia: a pilot study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2013 Aug;17(15):2085-90.
- Kumpu M, Lehtoranta L, Roivainen M, Rönkkö E, Ziegler T, Söderlund-Venermo M, Kautiainen H, Järvenpää S, Kekkonen R, Hatakka K, Korpela R, Pitkäranta A. The use of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and viral findings in the nasopharynx of children attending day care. J Med Virol. 2013 Sep;85(9):1632-8. doi: 10.1002/jmv.23623. Epub 2013 Jun 21.