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Healthy ChildrenPhase 2NCT07490587

To Investigate the Effects of Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis XLTG11 on Growth and Development, Incidence of Allergy and Immune Function in Infants

A Phase 2 study testing Probiotic in people with Healthy Children, run by Min-Tze LIONG at 2 sites in 2 countries.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This study is a 180-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving healthy infants and young children under 3 years of age with elevated allergy risk. Participants are randomized to receive either Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis XLTG11 probiotic or placebo daily. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 0 to 36 monthsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Healthy Children
What is being tested?
Probiotic
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
366 participants
Where
2 sitesin 2 countries
Study dates
1 Jan 2024to 30 Jun 2026
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 0 to 36 months
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Term infants are 37≤ gestational age < 42 weeks, and the birth weight is between 2500g and 4000g (only applicable to 0~12 months old)
  • Breastfed or mixed-fed healthy infants and young children, aged 0~3 (inclusive) years old, gender is not limited
  • The allergy risk score calculated by the Infant Allergy Risk Assessment Table is ≥6(Refer to the National Center for Women and Children's Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Investigation and Research on Allergy Symptoms and Risk Factors in Infants and Young Children)
  • Family primary guardians agree to collect fecal samples of infants and young children during this study
  • Have not used antibiotics in the past month
  • Have not used probiotics in the past three months
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Family primary guardians committed not to add additional Bifidobacterium dietary supplements to infants and young children during the intervention period
  • The guardians of the enrolled subjects agree to participate in this interventional study and sign a written informed consent form, and are able to understand and fill in forms such as infant diaries as required
  • Signed informed consent and willing to follow up at the time specified in the trial

Who cannot join

  • The mother of the infant has a history of diabetes, hepatitis B, HIV and other infectious diseases
  • Clinicians diagnosed with allergic diseases (including but not limited to eczema, asthma, allergic proctocolitis, allergic rhinitis, hay fever, etc.) at the time of enrollment of infants and young children
  • Infants and young children who are known to be allergic to the ingredients of probiotic products
  • In the opinion of the investigator, the subject has other reasons that make it unsuitable to participate in this clinical study

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 2 countries. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Min Tze Liong, Ph.D. contact

6046532114

mintze.liong@usm.my

Jie Yuan, M.Sc. contact

peanut.yuan@diprobio.com

2 sites in 2 countries

China1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital

    Pudong, Shanghai Municipality, 201306

    Jinping Zhang, MD, 86 21-64369181, zhang-jin-ping@163.com

    Jie Yuan, MD, 822137027899, peanut.yuan@diprobio.com

    Recruiting

Other trials in China

Malaysia1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Universiti Sains Malaysia

    Pulau Pinang, Pulau Pinang, 11800

    Min Tze Liong, Ph.D., 6046532114, mintze.liong@usm.my

    Jie Yuan, MD, 822137027899, peanut.yuan@diprobio.com

    Not yet recruiting

Other trials in Malaysia

About this study

This study is a 180-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving healthy infants and young children under 3 years of age with elevated allergy risk. Participants are randomized to receive either Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis XLTG11 probiotic or placebo daily. The primary clinical outcomes assessed are incidence and day-level burden of allergic, respiratory, and gastrointestinal symptoms. To investigate potential mechanisms, fecal samples were collected pre- and post-intervention for shotgun metagenomic sequencing to analyze changes in gut microbiota composition, functional pathways (KEGG, COG, GO), and mucosal immune markers (β-defensin 2, LL-37, calprotectin, sIgA) associated with clinical improvements.

Read the detailed description

Early childhood represents a critical developmental window during which the gut microbiome, immune system, and mucosal defense pathways undergo coordinated maturation. Dysregulation during this period contributes substantially to allergic sensitization, respiratory morbidity, and gastrointestinal disorders, which collectively represent major pediatric health burdens worldwide. Infants and young children frequently experience high symptom burden across these domains, reflecting vulnerability to microbial instability and disrupted mucosal homeostasis. The underlying causes are multifactorial, involving dietary transitions, environmental exposures, infections, and immune programming. Growing evidence suggests that disruptions in gut microbial stability, rather than merely compositional changes, may influence susceptibility to multi-system symptoms through interconnected immune and metabolic pathways.

The gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract are interconnected components of the common mucosal immune system. Immune responses generated in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue can influence distant mucosal sites, including the respiratory epithelium and skin-associated lymphoid tissues. Probiotics can stimulate gut-associated lymphoid tissue, leading to enhanced production of antimicrobial peptides (β-defensin 2, LL-37), immunoglobulins, cytokines, and short-chain fatty acids. These immune mediators circulate systemically and contribute to strengthened epithelial barrier function and immune surveillance at multiple sites. In addition, maintaining functional stability of the gut microbial ecosystem, rather than simply increasing diversity, may be essential for safeguarding against stress-driven metabolic reprogramming and pathobiont expansion during early life.

Children affected by allergic, respiratory, and gastrointestinal symptoms often exhibit instability in microbial community architecture, including bloom of opportunistic taxa (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Enterococcus faecalis, Ruminococcus gnavus, Ruminococcus torques) and depletion of short-chain fatty acid-producing fermenters (Eubacterium rectale, Anaerostipes hadrus, Coprococcus species). Dysbiosis and functional instability weaken both local and systemic immunity, particularly through reduced production of antimicrobial peptides and impaired epithelial barrier function. Probiotic supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis XLTG11 may help restore microbial functional homeostasis, suppress pathobiont-associated trajectories, and enhance the host's innate mucosal defense profile.

Based on current scientific understanding, this 180-day randomized controlled trial enrolled healthy infants and young children under 3 years of age with elevated allergy risk. Participants received daily Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis XLTG11 (1 × 10¹⁰ CFU) or placebo to evaluate clinical benefits across allergic, respiratory, and gastrointestinal domains, as well as safety outcomes including growth parameters and bowel habits. Additionally, shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed on fecal samples collected at baseline and 180 days to assess changes in gut microbiota composition, taxonomic remodeling, KEGG pathways, KEGG enrichment patterns, COG functional profiles, and Gene Ontology terms. Mucosal innate immune markers (β-defensin 2, LL-37, calprotectin, secretory IgA) were quantified to assess host immune modulation.

Through these integrated clinical, immunological, and multi-omic metagenomic measures, the study aims to clarify whether B. animalis subsp. lactis XLTG11 reduces symptom burden by buffering against microbiome functional instability, preserving genomic and metabolic homeostasis, reinforcing epithelial innate defense, and suppressing pathobiont emergence-rather than by driving compositional expansion alone. This functional buffering mechanism represents a novel paradigm for probiotic action during the critical early-life window of immune and microbiome development.

Being tested
Probiotic, Placebo
Keywords
children, probiotic, allergy, bifidobacterium
Medical subject headings
Hypersensitivity

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • ProbioticDietary supplement

    One sachet daily containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis XLTG11 (1 × 1010 CFU per 2 g dose) with maltodextrin as excipient

  • PlaceboDietary supplement

    One sachet daily (2g) containing only maltodextrin as excipient

Study groups in NCT07490587
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
ProbioticExperimentalOne sachet daily containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis XLTG11 (1 × 1010 CFU per 2 g dose) with maltodextrin as excipient
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Probiotic
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorOne sachet daily (2 g) containing only maltodextrin as excipient
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Allergy symptoms in children upon administration of probiotic or placebo as assessed via clinical questionnaire

    Differences in severity of allergy symptoms in children upon administration of probiotic or placebo, assessed using a hospital-based clinical questionnaire, that captures the frequency and duration of symptoms over the observation period, where composite scores is the cumulative number and duration of reported episodes, with lower values indicating a lower overall symptom burden and better respiratory status.

    Measured: Day-0, Day-180

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Microbiota profiles of fecal samples in young children upon administration of probiotic or placebo as assessed via 16s rRNA and metagenomics gene sequencing

    Differences in microbiota profiles in fecal sample of children upon administration of probiotic or placebo

    Measured: Day-0, day-180

  2. Gut immune biomarkers of fecal samples in young children upon administration of probiotic or placebo as assessed via Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

    Differences in gut immune biomarkers in fecal sample of children upon administration of probiotic or placebo, such as secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA).

    Measured: Day-0, Day-180

  3. Defecation frequency in children upon administration of probiotic or placebo as assessed via daily stool diary

    Differences in defecation frequency (stools per day) in children upon administration of probiotic or placebo, assessed using a structured daily stool diary completed by parents/guardians.

    Measured: Day-0, day-180

  4. Stool consistency (Bristol Stool Scale characteristics) in children upon administration of probiotic or placebo as assessed via standardized stool form classification

    Differences in stool consistency in children upon administration of probiotic or placebo, assessed using the Bristol Stool Form Scale (type 1-7), with parents/guardians recording daily stool characteristics, where abnormal stools are characterized by types 1-2 (constipation) and types 6-7 (diarrhea).

    Measured: Day-0, Day-180

  5. Growth index (age- and sex-standardized Z-score) in children upon administration of probiotic or placebo as assessed via anthropometric measurements.

    Differences in growth outcomes between groups were assessed using standardized anthropometric measurements where Z-scores are calculated based on the World Health Organization Child Growth Standards, and the scores represent standardized deviations from the reference population mean, with a theoretical range typically spanning approximately -6 to +6, where higher values indicate greater growth relative to age- and sex-specific norms.

    Measured: Day-0, Day-180

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted24 Mar 2026
  2. Study start1 Jan 2024
  3. Primary completion30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Jun 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
366 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07490587
Sponsor's protocol ID
2023-142
Status last verified
Mar 2026
First submitted
18 Mar 2026
Last updated
1 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Yuan Y, Yin X, Liu J, Jing J, Shi Y, Tao S, Guo L, Wang D, Jiang W, Liong MT, Chen D, Zhang J. Bifidobacterium lactis XLTG11 Reduces Eczema and Infections in Infants: A Randomized Trial. QJM. 2026 Jun 17:hcag148. doi: 10.1093/qjmed/hcag148. Online ahead of print.

    PubMed 42308545

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Probiotic in people with Healthy Children, run by Min-Tze LIONG at 2 sites in 2 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 9 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in China, Malaysia. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Min Tze Liong, Ph.D. (6046532114, mintze.liong@usm.my), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Allergy symptoms in children upon administration of probiotic or placebo as assessed via clinical questionnaire (time frame: Day-0, Day-180). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07490587, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Apr 2026.

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