Chr. Hansen Tests Effectiveness Of Probiotic Strain In Preventing Respiratory Infections

Chr. Hansen is launching a large-scale clinical study to “document the immune-boosting properties” of its probiotic strains. The company’s goal is to prove that consuming its proprietary probiotics will protect people from colds and influenza. The study will use an “influenza vaccination model” to test the impact of the company’s flagship probiotic strain, L. casei 431, on 1,058 healthy adults. The multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical study is recruiting participants through November. According to the company, about 500 million non-influenza-related viral respiratory tract infections occur each year in the U.S. alone.