The study published in Clinical Nutrition demonstrated that HOWARU® Protect Adults (Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04®) appears to be a useful nutritional supplement in reducing the risk of URTI in healthy and physically-active adults.

A double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted in Australia by the Griffith Health Institute at Griffith University and the Australian Institute of Sport. Four hundred and sixty five participants (241 males; age 35 ± 12 y (mean ± SD) and 224 females; age 36 ± 12 y) were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: Group 1 – Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bl-04® (Bl-04®) 2.0 × 10⁹colony forming units per day, CFU per day, Group 2 – Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM® and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bi-07™ (NCFM® & Bi-07™) 5 × 10⁹ CFU each per day) or Group 3 – placebo mixed in a drink.

Results show that the risk of an upper respiratory illness episode was significantly lower in the Bl-04® group (hazard ratio 0.73; 95% confidence interval 0.55–0.95; P = 0.022) compared to placebo. There was no significant difference in the risk of illness between the NCFM® & Bi-07™ group (hazard ratio 0.81; 0.62–1.08; P = 0.15) and the placebo group. There was a 0.7 and 0.9 month delay in the median time to an illness episode in the Bl-04® and NCFM® & Bi-07™ groups, respectively, compared to placebo (placebo 2.5 months; Bl-04® 3.2 months; NCFM® & Bi-07™ 3.4 months).