Increasing Work-place Healthiness with the Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri: A Randomised, Double-blind Placebo-controlled Study

FROM:   Environ Health 2005 (Nov 7);   4:   25 ~ FULL TEXT

Tubelius P, Stan V, Zachrisson A

Tetra Pak Occupational Health and Safety AB, Ruben Rausings Gata, 221 86 Lund, Sweden. py.tubelius@tetrapak.com

DISCUSSION:

According to the National Institutes of Health, respiratory infections (such as the common cold) and gastrointestinal problems are two of the leading causes of workplace absence. Shift workers appear to be more susceptible to these types of illnesses than other workers. Finding ways to improve the health of shift workers could not only increase productivity in the workplace, but would save billions of dollars each year in lost productivity.

In a recent randomized controlled trial in Sweden, 262 shift workers at a packaging company were assigned to either take a drink containing Lactobacillus reuteri, a type of probiotic known to boost immune system function, or a placebo drink daily for 80 days.

A total of 181 workers completed the study. More than 26 percent of the workers taking the placebo drink reported sick during the course of the study, compared to just 11 percent of workers who took the probiotic drink. The probiotic appeared even more effective in employees who worked the night shift; no night-shift workers taking the probiotic drink called in sick during the study, compared to 33 percent of those given the placebo.

If you suffer from frequent colds and other respiratory or gastrointestinal ailments, incorporating a Lactobacillus supplement into your diet will help your immune system to function better.


ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND:   Short term illnesses, usually caused by respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases are disruptive to productivity and there is relatively little focus on preventative measures. This study examined the effect of the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri protectis (ATCC55730) on its ability to improve work-place healthiness by reducing short term sick-leave caused by respiratory or gastrointestinal infections.

METHODS:   262 employees at TetraPak in Sweden (day-workers and three-shift-workers) that were healthy at study start were randomised in a double-blind fashion to receive either a daily dose of 108 Colony Forming Units of L. reuteri or placebo for 80 days. The study products were administered with a drinking straw. 181 subjects complied with the study protocol, 94 were randomised to receive L. reuteri and 87 received placebo.

RESULTS:   In the placebo group 26.4% reported sick-leave for the defined causes during the study as compared with 10.6% in the L. reuteri group (p < 0.01). The frequency of sick-days was 0.9% in the placebo group and 0.4% in the L. reuteri group (p < 0.01). Among the 53 shift-workers, 33% in the placebo group reported sick during the study period as compared with none in the L. reuteri group(p < 0.005).

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