Abstract
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 1 billion common colds occur annually in the United States. 1 The socioeconomic cost of these noninfluenza viral respiratory tract infections is high, with direct and indirect costs of $40 billion per year. 2 While many patients take OTCs for symptomatic management of colds, others use supplements such as high-dose vitamin C, zinc, and Echinacea. Recently, probiotics have also been studied to assess their potential efficacy in combating respiratory diseases, including the common cold. 3 Although their mechanism of action is unknown, probiotics might influence immune responses by stimulating antibody production and improving phagocytic activity of leukocytes.
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