Probiotics may help fight off cold symptoms

A team of researchers from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Health Related Professions tested a group of 198 university students living in close quarters during a cold outbreak. In a double-blind study, subjects took either probiotic supplements or a placebo for 12 weeks while responding to survey questions daily.

While all of the students caught colds at roughly the same rate, the students who supplemented with probiotics had shorter colds by two days, symptoms that were 34 percent less severe, and fewer missed school days.