Skip to main content
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Pillser
Search
Sign UpLog In

Probiotics Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Lactobacillus casei CRL 431 modestly increase growth, but not iron and zinc status, among Indonesian children aged 1-6 years.

  • 2013-07
  • The Journal of nutrition 143(7)
    • Rina Agustina
    • Ingeborg M J Bovee-Oudenhoven
    • Widjaja Lukito
    • Umi Fahmida
    • Ondine van de Rest
    • Michael B Zimmermann
    • Agus Firmansyah
    • Ratna Wulanti
    • Ruud Albers
    • Ellen G H M van den Heuvel
    • Frans J Kok

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 494
Population
Healthy children (n = 494) of low-socioeconomic urban communities of Jakarta
Methods
6-mo randomized trial, children randomly assigned to receive low-lactose milk with low calcium (~50 mg/d), regular calcium (~440 mg/d), regular calcium with 5 × 10^8 CFU/d Lactobacillus casei CRL 431, or regular calcium with 5 × 10^8 CFU/d Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938
Blinding
Open-label
Duration
6 mo
Funding
Unclear
  • Large Human Trial
Probiotics and milk calcium may increase resistance to intestinal infection, but their effect on growth and iron and zinc status of Indonesian children is uncertain. We investigated the hypotheses that cow milk with added probiotics would improve growth and iron and zinc status of Indonesian children, whereas milk calcium alone would improve growth but reduce iron and zinc status. A 6-mo randomized trial was conducted in low-socioeconomic urban communities of Jakarta. Healthy children (n = 494) were randomly assigned to receive low-lactose milk with a low calcium content of ∼50 mg/d (LC; n = 124), a regular calcium content of ∼440 mg/d (RC group; n = 126), regular calcium with 5 × 10(8) CFU/d Lactobacillus casei CRL 431 (casei; n = 120), or regular calcium with 5 × 10(8) CFU/d Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (reuteri; n = 124). Growth, anemia, and iron and zinc status were assessed before and after the intervention. Compared with the RC group, the reuteri group had significantly greater weight gain [0.22 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.42) kg], weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) changes [0.09 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.17)], and monthly weight [0.03 (95% CI: 0.002, 0.05) kg/mo] and height [0.03 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.05) cm/mo] velocities. Casei significantly increased monthly weight velocity [0.03 (95% CI: 0.001, 0.05) kg/mo], but not height. However, the changes in underweight, stunting, anemia prevalence, and iron and zinc status were similar between groups. In conclusion, L. reuteri DSM 17938 modestly improved growth by increasing weight gain, WAZ changes, and weight and height velocity, whereas L. casei CRL 431 modestly improved weight velocity. Independent from probiotics supplementation, regular milk calcium did not affect growth or iron and zinc status.

Research Insights

Back to top