Abstract
We previously reported on the effects of Lactoplantibacillus plantarum DR7 on reducing Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTI) symptoms’ score and frequency in 109 adults upon a 12-week consumption at 109 colony-forming units (CFU)/day, but several limitations were detected in the publication. Thus, the present study re-analyzed some data with the aim to address some of these weaknesses, and presents new data on duration of URTI and consumption of URTI-associated medication, as compared to the placebo. Our re-analyses found probiotic administration significantly reduced the proportion of patient days of URTI and of fever (all p < 0.05). Recent history of URTI was a prevalent co-factor in affecting duration of URTI symptoms and fever, while other demographic and clinical factors had no influence. Exploratory analyses suggested probiotic had an earlier benefit in patients without a recent history of URTI compared to those with a recent history of URTI. Therefore, recent history of infections could have a modulatory effect on probiotic efficacy. Average number of months with reported use of URTI-related medication was 3.4-times lower in the probiotic group as compared to placebo (p = 0.016) during the intervention. Taken together, our present new data further support previous findings that DR7 probiotic had a beneficial effect on URTI.
Highlights
This amounts to 9156 patient days available for analysis in the study population, 4452 in the placebo group and 4704 in the probiotic group
Considering that Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTI) is the most common cause of absentia at work for adults, the current re-analysis of data emphasized on the duration factor, for both duration of URTI and fever which were not presented in the previous study [12]
We have previously reported the ability of L. plantarum DR7 in modulating gut microbiota profiles in adults [13], but this probiotic could need more time to modulate gut microbiota profiles of patients with recent history of URTI, prior to activation of hosts’ immune system, leading to a slower time to exert benefits against any observable
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) is likely the most frequent illness in adults [1]. While the primary symptoms of URTI include nasal stuffiness and discharge, sneezing, sore throat, and cough, the onset of fever is common, as accompanied by some cases of clinical manifestations which may vary by age. Paranasal sinusitis is the most frequent complication of URTI in this population [2]. Adults have two to four episodes per year [3], leading to a rise in absentia at work, causing much economical and financial burden on the patients and families, workplace organizations, healthcare, and insurance providers
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