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Aim: To determine whether probiotic supplementation in early life improves neurocognitive outcomes assessed at 11 years of age.Methods: A total of 474 children who were born March 2004-Aug 2005 participated in a two-centre randomised placebo-controlled trial of infants at risk of developing allergic disease. Pregnant women were randomised to take Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain HN001, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain HN019 or placebo daily from 35 weeks gestation until six months if breastfeeding, and their infants the same treatment from birth to two years. Intelligence, executive function, attention, depression and anxiety were assessed when the children were 11 years of age.Results: A total of 342 (72.2%) children were assessed (HN001 n = 109, HN019 n = 118 and placebo n = 115). Overall, there were no significant differences in the neurocognitive outcomes between the treatment groups.Conclusion: HN001 and HN019 given in early life were not associated with neurocognitive outcomes at 11 years of age in this study. However, we cannot exclude that other probiotics may have a beneficial effect. Further clinical trials are indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research on the effects of yogurt consumption for reducing eczema and early atopic sensitization to food antigens. Topics include effects of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus on maternal and infant health, history of the allergic condition in parents, and risk factors of reverse causation.

Background The role of probiotics in prevention of allergic disease is still not clear; efficacy may depend on the timing, dose, duration, and specific probiotic used. Using a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12607000518460), we have shown that in a high-risk birth cohort, maternal supplementation from 35 weeks gestation until 6 months if breastfeeding and infant supplementation from birth until 2 years with Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 ( HN001) (6 × 109 cfu/day) halved the cumulative prevalence of eczema at 2 and 4 years. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis HN019 ( HN019) (9 × 109 cfu/day) had no significant effect. Objective To determine whether differences in effects of HN001 and HN019 on eczema persist to age 6 years, and to investigate effects on sensitization. Methods Standard procedures were used to assess eczema (The UK Working Party's Criteria), eczema severity ( SCORAD), atopic sensitization [skin prick tests ( SPT), total and specific IgE] and standard questions used for asthma, wheeze, and rhinoconjunctivitis. Results HN001 was associated with significantly lower cumulative prevalence of eczema ( HR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.39-0.80), SCORAD ≥ 10 ( HR = 0.69, 0.49-0.98) and SPT sensitization ( HR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.48-0.99). The point prevalence of eczema ( RR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.44-1.00), SCORAD ≥ 10 ( RR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.38-1.01) and SPT sensitization ( RR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.53-1.00) were also reduced among children taking HN001. HN019 had no significant effect on any outcome. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance This study provides evidence for the efficacy of the probiotic L. rhamnosus HN001 in preventing the development of eczema and possibly also atopic sensitization in high risk infants to age 6 years. The absence of a similar effect for HN019 indicates that benefits may be species specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]