Effect of bifidobacterium Bb12 with or without Streptococcus thermophilus supplemented formula on nutritional status.

Acute diarrhea is a common cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Probiotic supplemented infant formula is one of the effective methods for prevention of rotavirus diarrhea. Other benefits of the probiotics supplemented formula were evaluated by monitoring the growth of the children. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was done in 148 children aged 6-36 months. They were divided into 3 groups: the Bb12 group, 51 children received infant formula with Bifidobacteria Bb12 supplement; the Bb12+ST group, 54 children received infant formula with Bb12 and Streptococcus thermophilus supplement; and the control group, 43 children received infant formula without supplement. The mean weight Z-score according to WHO reference standard of the Bb12 group was -1.8 ± 0.12, the Bb12+ST group was -1.4 ± 0.11 and the control group was -1.8 ± 0.13 at entry. The mean weight Z-score of children after 6 month showed that the children in the Bb12+ST group had the highest increase in weight which was increased from -1.4 ± 0.11 to -0.9 ± 0.12 compared to the Z-score of the Bb12 group which had increased from -1.8 ± 0.12 to -1.2 ± 0.13 and in the control group from -1.8 ± 0.13 to -1.7 ± 0.25. In terms of the mean height Z-score, the Bb12 group was -2.7 ± 0.14 to -1.7 ± 0.16 which was higher than the Bb12+ST group (-2.2 ± 0.13 to -1.7 ± 0.13) but was not different from the control group. However, the mean weight/height Z-score of the Bb12+ST group had approached the reference standard (Bb 12 group -0.1 ± 0.11 to -0.1 ± 0.13, Bb 12+ST group -0.1 ± 0.10 to 0.3 ± 0.17, control group -0.4 ± 0.12 to -0.1 ± 0.16). Data showed that children who received the probiotics supplement formula had better growth during the 6 month period. Key word : Bifidobacterium Bb12, Streptococcus thermophilus, Probiotic