The Sourdough School

BALM – Proven as one of the healthiest approaches to bread in the world.

Based in the walled gardens of Dr. Vanessa Kimbell's beautiful Victorian home in rural Northamptonshire, UK, we tutor individuals and train bakers and healthcare professionals in Baking as Lifestyle Medicine (BALM). Personalising bread to your lifestyle, gut microbiome, and unique genetics for optimal health—tailoring fermentation, fibre, and diversity so that your daily bread becomes the foundation of your health.

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617 - ‘Randomised clinical trial: efficacy of a new synbiotic formulation containing Lactobacillus paracasei B21060 plus arabinogalactan and xilooligosaccharides in children with acute diarrhoea’. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 35: 782–788

Reference Number: 617

Year: 2012

Authors: A. Passariello, G. Terrin, G. Cecere, M. Micillo, G. De Marco, M. Di Costanzo, L. Cosenza, L. Leone, R. Nocerino & R. Berni Canani

Link: Link to original paper

Nutrition: Probiotic

Summary

Abstract

Background
Acute diarrhoea is a frequent problem in children with heavy economic burden for families and society.

Aim
To test the efficacy of a new synbiotic formulation containing Lactobacillus paracasei B21060, arabinogalactan and xilooligosaccharides in children with acute diarrhoea.

Methods
Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, including children (age 3–36 m) with acute diarrhoea who were allocated to placebo or synbiotic group. Major outcome was resolution rate of diarrhoea at 72 h. Total duration of diarrhoea, daily stool outputs, stool consistency, working days lost by parents, adjunctive medications, and hospitalisation were also assessed.

Results
We enrolled 55 children in placebo group and 52 in synbiotic group. The two groups were similar for demographic and clinical characteristics. Resolution rate of diarrhoea at 72 h was significantly higher in synbiotic group (67%) compared to placebo group (40%, P = 0.005). Children in synbiotic group showed a significant reduction in the duration of diarrhoea (90.5 h, 78.1–102.9 vs. 109.8 h, 96.0–123.5, P = 0.040), daily stool outputs (3.3, 2.8–3.8 vs. 2.4, 1.9–2.8, P = 0.005) and stool consistency (1.3, 0.9–1.6 vs. 0.6, 0.4–0.9, P = 0.002) compared to placebo group (data expressed as mean, 95% CI). Rate of parents that missed at least one working day (41.8% vs. 15.4%, P = 0.003), rate of children that needed adjunctive medications (25.5% vs. 5.8%, P = 0.005) or hospitalisation (10.9% vs. 0%, P = 0.014) after the first 72 h of treatment, were reduced in synbiotic group.

Conclusion
The synbiotic formulation studied is effective in children with acute diarrhoea.

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All reasonable care is taken when advising about health aspects of bread, but the information that we share is not intended to take the place of treatment by a qualified medical practitioner. You must seek professional advice if you are in any doubt about any medical condition. Any application of the ideas and information contained on this website is at the reader's sole discretion and risk.

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