Effect of Probiotics on Health-related Quality of Life in College Students With Upper Respiratory Infections

Effect of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus LGG® and Bifidobacterium Animalis Ssp Lactis BB-12® on Health-related Quality of Life in College Students With Upper Respiratory Infections

The main purpose of the study is to find out if probiotics (healthy bacteria found in yogurt) can improve the health-related quality of life (HRQL) during upper respiratory infections (like the common cold) in college students living in residence hall on-campus at Framingham State University (Framingham, MA) who are randomized to receive a probiotic or placebo candy daily for 12 weeks. HRQL is a subjective measure, defined as the aspects of quality of life (i.e., one's satisfaction with their life) that related specifically to a person's health (for example, ability to carry out normal daily activities). The investigators hypothesize that HRQL during URIs will be significantly higher in the probiotic groups compared to the placebo group. The proposed study will also seek to address the following secondary objectives: missed school and work days due to a upper respiratory infection.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Student at Framingham State University (Framingham, MA)
2. Live in on-campus housing

Exclusion Criteria:

1. their driver's license or state identification card indicated that they were under 18 years of age or over 25 years of age;
2. they experienced chronic perennial allergies (such as, allergies to dust or 3) they were pregnant

4) they had been diagnosed with medical conditions affecting immune function (for example, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome and human immunodeficiency virus) 5) they had acute pancreatitis, were undergoing treatment for cancer; or, were taking immunosuppressive drugs for an autoimmune disease or post-transplant.