The Effects of Probiotic and Prebiotic Administration in Children with Acute Diarrhea at Day-Care Centers

Prevention of diarrhea needs an appropriate immune system supported by normal microbiota composition. This study aimed to determine whether probiotic or prebiotic enriched Growing-Up Milk could significantly reduce incidence of acute diarrhea. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was conducted in Surabaya, Gresik, and Sidoarjo cities, East Java-Indonesia, between July 2007 and January 2008. This study involved healthy children aged 1-5 years at day-care centers and were randomized to receive three different Growing-Up Milk containing probiotic, prebiotic, or placebo groups (containing neither probiotic nor prebiotic). The day-care staff and parents reported the amount of milk consumed, symptoms, and duration of acute diarrhea during the observation time. A total of 162 participants were divided into probiotic (55), prebiotic (54), and placebo groups (53). The incidence of diarrhea in all the participants was 1.2%, which was the least incidence from the prebiotic group and the highest in the placebo group and significantly different (P = 0.001). The mean duration of diarrhea in all the intervention groups was lower than the placebo group, although neither was statistically nor clinically significant (P = 0.254). Administration of Growing-Up Milk enriched with probiotics or prebiotics appears to be a great opportunity in reducing the incidence of acute diarrhea in children aged 1-5 years.