Battle Flu & Colds with Bacteria

Seasonal influenza, commonly called “the flu”, compromises health, leaving people more susceptible to pneumonia, ear infections, and sinus difficulties (learn more by reading A4M’s “Flu News“. Typically, seasonal flu outbreaks costs U.S. employers $10.4 billion in direct costs of hospitalization and outpatient visits, plus the indirect costs of lost productivity and worker absenteeism.  The aches, pains, and runny nose characteristic of the common cold cost upwards of $25 billion a year in the US. Bobbi Langkamp-Henken, from the University of Florida (Florida, USA), and colleagues enrolled 581 academically stressed undergraduate students to receive one of 3 probiotic bacteria strains: Lactobacillus helveticus, Bifidobacterium longum ssp. Infantis, or Bifidobacterium bifidum; or placebo, over a six-week period. On each day, subjects recorded the intensity for nine specific cold/flu symptoms, which the researchers calculated unto a sum of symptom intensity.  Daily consumption of Bifidobacterium bifidum was found to result in a greater proportion of healthy days (as compared to placebo); with subjects reporting less than one day of cold/fluy symptoms during the study period.  The study authors submit that: “Daily intake of bifidobacteria provides benefit related to cold/flu outcomes during acute stress.”