The Effect of Yogurt Containing BB12 on Children's Health and Child Care Absenteeism

The Effect of Daily Consumption of Yogurt Containing Bifidobacterium Lactis (BB12) on Children's' Health and Child Care Absenteeism

The aim of our study is to assess the effect of daily consumption of yogurt containing probiotic bacteria BB12 on the health and growth of healthy children 12-48 months of age in out of home child care.

Inclusion Criteria:

• An informed consent has been signed by the parents.
• The child is at least one year old and has not had his 4th birthday at the beginning of the study
• The child is healthy.
• The child attends child care center at least 5 days a week, > 4 hours per day.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Was born preterm.
• Had a birth weight <2,500 g.
• Has congenital anomalies.
• Has a structural abnormality of the digestive tract or previous significant gastrointestinal surgery.
• Has chronic disease or malignancy.
• Has a serious, unstable medical condition.
• Is Failure to Thrive (FTT) (<5th percentile of ideal body weight).
• Has an allergy or atopic disease.
• Has an allergy or intolerance to milk/dairy products.
• Has an established diagnosis of lactase deficiency.
• Is predisposed to infection (i.e., compromised immune system, HIV-AIDS, active bacterial disease, under steroid treatment).
• Received antibiotic treatment or intentionally consumes probiotic products during the preceding 4 weeks. (If the subject was on antibiotics before the beginning of the study or probiotics, a washout period of 2 weeks is required.)