Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum Reduces Perceived Psychological Stress in Healthy Adults: An Exploratory Clinical Trial.

Emerging science shows that probiotic intake may impact stress and mental health. We investigated the effect of a 6-week intervention with Bifidobacterium longum (BL) NCC3001 (1 × 1010 CFU/daily) on stress-related psychological and physiological parameters in 45 healthy adults with mild-to-moderate stress using a randomized, placebo-controlled, two-arm, parallel, double-blind design. The main results showed that supplementation with the probiotic significantly reduced the perceived stress and improved the subjective sleep quality score compared to placebo. Comparing the two groups, momentary subjective assessments concomitant to the Maastricht Acute Stress Test revealed a lower amount of pain experience in the probiotic group and a higher amount of relief at the end of the procedure in the placebo group, reflected by higher scores in the positive affect state. The awakening of the salivary cortisol response was not affected by the intervention, yet the reduction observed in the salivary cortisol stress response post-intervention was higher in the placebo group than the probiotic group. Multivariate analysis further indicated that a reduction in perceived stress correlated with a reduction in anxiety, in depression, and in the cortisol awakening response after the 6-week intervention. This exploratory trial provides promising insights into BL NCC3001 to reduce perceived stress in a healthy population and supports the potential of nutritional solutions including probiotics to improve mental health.

The Matrix Matters: Beverage Carbonation Impacts the Timing of Caffeine Effects on Sustained Attention.

Both caffeine and the perception of refreshment delivered by cooling, tingling, and mouth-watering flavors have individually been shown to positively impact cognitive performance and mood, though presently there is limited evidence on their possible combined effects. This study explored the contribution of refreshing compounds in beverages, namely, carbon dioxide and citric acid, on the acute effects of caffeine on sustained attention and self-rated physical and mental energy. A randomized, controlled crossover trial was conducted by testing three products: a carbonated caffeinated beverage; a comparator caffeinated beverage; and a flavor-matched control beverage. Findings from 24 healthy adults revealed product-dependent variations in cognitive performance during a 60-min visual sustained-attention task, suggesting that the carbonated-caffeinated beverage led to faster, greater and more consistent levels of accuracy, compared to the control beverage. Specifically, significant differences were found between: (1) the carbonated-caffeinated beverage and the caffeinated beverage, and (2) between the caffeinated beverage and the control beverage for number of hits, reaction time and false alarm scores. Both caffeinated beverages led to higher physical and mental energy, and lower physical and mental fatigue 60-min post-consumption. These findings suggest beneficial effects on sustained attention through the combination of caffeine with refreshing compounds.

Soothing Effect of an Edible Teether: A Pilot Study in Children during Primary Dentition Age.

BACKGROUND: Irritability and discomfort are common symptoms during teething periods in infants and toddlers. Non-pharmacological remedies to relieve teething symptoms include teethers and food for chewing. However, the efficacy of such remedies for their soothing effect has been poorly investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this home-based pilot study, the soothing effect of a novel edible teether with a slowly dissolvable texture was investigated in 12 children aged 5 to 19 months old during primary dentition age. After parents observed their child getting irritable, the child received the edible teether for an exposure duration of 15 to 20 minutes. Parental ratings of children's mood states (crankiness, stress, happiness, and calmness) were collected using visual analog scales, and child cardiac measurements (heart rate and heart rate variability) were assessed using a wearable device. The soothing effect was quantified via mood ratings and physiological calming responses as a before-after comparison using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. RESULTS: Parents perceived their child as significantly calmer and happier, less stressed, and marginally less cranky after edible teether exposure than before. The child cardiac variables showed no significant changes; however, exposure to the teether induced a marginal increase in HR within normal ranges, potentially indicating a stimulation effect. CONCLUSION: The pilot study provides the first insight on the soothing effect of a novel edible teether on parent-reported mood states in young children during primary dentition age. Further research is needed to understand the relative contribution of the different components of an edible teether to the observed effects, such as texture and exposure duration, and to demonstrate its efficacy against a control product. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Swiss registry of clinical trial: CER-VD 2019-02155. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Lerond C, Hudry J, Zahar S, et al. Soothing Effect of an Edible Teether: A Pilot Study in Children during Primary Dentition Age. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(4):525-530.