subsp. 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 (1 × 10 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.

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.

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.