Table 3

The effect of probiotic treatment on the number, duration, severity and combined load of lower respiratory symptoms

Effect of probiotic

relative to placebo

(mean; 99% CI)

Probiotic

group

(mean ± SD)

Placebo

group

(mean ± SD)

Ratio

Difference

Qualitative

inference

Males

Number of episodes

0.6 ± 0.9

1.0 ± 1.5

0.55;

0.15 to 1.60

Likely ↓

Duration (d)

3.5 ± 6.6

7.4 ± 10.3

0.47;

0.10 to 1.43

Likely ↓

Severity (1-3 scale)

1.23 ± 0.36

1.65 ± 0.57

-0.43

-0.92 to 0.08

Possible ↓

Symptom Load

(severity-days)

4.0 ± 7.2

13.0 ± 19.0

0.31;

0.07 to 0.96

Very likely ↓

Females

Number of episodes

1.6 ± 2.1

0.5 ± 0.8

3.27;

0.82 to 21

Likely ↑

Duration (d)

12.2 ± 14.8

5.1 ± 14.7

2.39;

0.45 to 43

Likely ↑

Severity (1-3 scale)

1.38 ± 0.45

2.07 ± 0.77

-0.69

-1.57 to 0.10

Possible ↓

Symptom Load

(severity-days)

17.1 ± 19.0

7.9 ± 20.7

2.18;

0.41 to 27.23

Likely ↑

SD, standard deviation; CI, confidence interval.

Smallest clinically important values for assessing effects qualitatively: ratios, ×/÷1.20; differences, ± 0.5.

West et al. Nutrition Journal 2011 10:30   doi:10.1186/1475-2891-10-30