Probiotics may prevent childcare gastro lurgies, new research shows

New research suggests probiotics could help reduce “gastro bugs” in children attending childcare and kindergartens – potentially easing the familiar cycle of gastro lurgies for parents and families.

The Australian-first study from Federation University found that children aged two to five who took a daily multi-strain probiotic supplement over a six-month period were less likely to experience gastrointestinal infections than those who received a placebo.

Led by Dr Haris Ahmad, the 12-month trial followed 118 children across childcare centres and kindergartens in Victoria.

Researchers found children in the probiotic group experienced a 62 per cent reduction in the incidence of gastrointestinal tract infections compared with those in the placebo group, suggesting probiotics may offer a preventive effect against common tummy bugs in young children.

The findings highlight the potential role of probiotics in supporting children’s health in high-exposure settings such as childcare and kindergarten, where gastrointestinal illnesses can spread quickly among children and families.

“There was a clear finding that the probiotic containing five different strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium had a positive effect in reducing gastrointestinal infections,” Dr Ahmad said.

“This was not a treatment effect, but a preventive one – children taking probiotics were less likely to experience gastro infections compared to those who were not.

“Our research shows there may be a meaningful role for probiotic use in reducing the incidence of gastrointestinal infections in young children and helping reduce the incidence of infections in childcare settings.”

That effect, however, did not extend to other common illnesses in childcare settings. The probiotics showed no impact on upper respiratory tract infections, including flu-like illnesses and colds.

The study also revealed that probiotics take time to take effect, with benefits becoming noticeable only after around two months of consistent use.

“This highlights the importance of ongoing use – benefits accumulate over time rather than appearing immediately,” Dr Ahmad said.

The randomised controlled trial was conducted remotely, with families participating from home and children recruited from across the state. Researchers collected weekly health data and tracked development over time.

The level of probiotics used in the trial was significantly more potent and varied than that found in yoghurts and other supermarket supplements. The powdered products could be sprinkled on a child’s food or mixed into a drink.

Dr Ahmad conducted the probiotic trial as part of his PhD at Federation University, reflecting his broader interest in how the gut microbiome shapes health from an early age.

Now working in radiation oncology at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, where he manages clinical trials, he remains focused on the role of lifestyle and environmental exposures in influencing long-term disease risk.

“My future research aims to understand how gut microbiome data could potentially act as a predictive tool,” he said.

“The idea is that your environment, diet, exercise and daily exposures all influence your microbiome, which in turn affects broader health outcomes. We want to explore whether microbiome analysis can help predict certain health risks.

“By advancing this research, we hope to build on findings like these and identify new opportunities for early intervention and improved long-term health in children and the wider population.”