Six months of supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 also alleviated a raft of symptoms related to feeding, digestion, and irritability in the formula-fed children, according to data published in Frontiers in Nutrition.
“The significant reduction in nasal congestion and nasal discharge, coupled with the decreased incidence of upper respiratory tract infections, demonstrates the probiotic’s substantial impact on respiratory health,” wrote scientists from Chengdu Women’s & Children’s Central Hospital, Chongzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, and DiPROBIO (Shanghai) Co.
“This observation is consistent with potential gut–lung axis interactions, supported by the enrichment of immune signaling pathway, antigen processing and presentation in the functional analysis, suggests enhanced mucosal immune activity.”
Immune development
Early childhood is a critical time for the colonization and establishment of the microbiome and developing immune system.
“During this formative stage, the immature immune system is particularly vulnerable to dysregulation, manifesting in a rising prevalence of allergic diseases and recurrent infections,” explained the China-based researchers. These include eczema and respiratory tract infections, which can impact quality of life for the child and parents, as well as contributing to healthcare burdens.
The role of the gut microbiome is the regulation of the immune system is now established, while the concepts of the gut-skin axis and the gut-lung axis are emerging in the scientific literature and suggest that oral consumption of microbiome modulators may impact skin and lung health.
The new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examined the immunomodulatory potential of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 in 360 formula-fed infants and children. Bifidobacteria are early colonizers of the infant gut.
Study details
The researchers divided the children (all aged below three years of age) to receive either the probiotic (B. lactis BLa80, 5 billion CFUs per day) or placebo for 180 days.
The results showed that the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in the probiotic group was 19.4%, while the incidence in the placebo group was 42.5%. Moreover, the incidence of eczema was 70% in the placebo group but only 27.6% in the probiotic group.
Secondary outcomes, which assessed respiratory infections and gastrointestinal symptoms, indicated that the numbers were significantly lower in the probiotic group versus placebo after six months of supplementation. Specifically, nasal congestion and discharge, cough, vomiting, food refusal, and decreased appetite were all significantly lower in the probiotic group.
The probiotic was also associated with improvements in immunological markers, including increased secretory IgA (the first line of defense in protecting against infection) and decreased calprotectin (a marker of intestinal inflammation).
Analysis of the composition of the microbiome of the children revealed that the probiotic group displayed enrichment of beneficial taxa such as Akkermansia and Fusicatenibacter with enhanced metabolic pathways including tryptophan metabolism and vitamin biosynthesis.
“This randomized controlled trial demonstrates that early-life supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 is a safe and effective nutritional strategy for promoting child health,” wrote the researchers.
“These findings provide a strong mechanistic rationale for the use of probiotic BLa80 as a preventive measure to support immune and metabolic health in the critical early years of life.”
Source: Frontiers in Nutrition. 2026. Volume 13, doi: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1727191 “Efficacy of Bifidobacterium lactis BLa80 in preventing early childhood eczema and respiratory infections via gut microbiome and immune modulation”. Authors: K. Chen, et al.
