Probiotic Applications and Safety in Pediatric Health

Probiotics show promise in preventing and managing food allergies, but the impact of supplementation during pregnancy or infancy on children's allergies and gut microbiota remains unclear.

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Recent studies have demonstrated the anti-allergic effects of probiotics in humans. However, their role in preventing and treating pediatric allergic rhinitis has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to systematically review the efficacy and preventive effects of probiotics on pediatric allergic rhinitis.

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Aim: Various studies have reported that probiotics play a role in immune modulation and in preventing the development of allergic diseases by affecting the intestinal flora. However, there is no clear consensus on this subject yet. This study aimed to evaluate the usage of probiotics in children with and without allergic diseases. Method: Probiotic usage of children (

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Probiotics are "live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amount, confer health benefits on the host". They can be found in certain foods like yogurt and kefir and in dietary supplements. The introduction of bacterial derivatives has not only contributed to disease control but has also exhibited promising outcomes, such as improved survival rates, immune enhancement, and growth promotion effects. It is interesting to note that the efficacy of probiotics goes beyond the viability of the bacteria, giving rise to concepts like paraprobiotics, non-viable forms of probiotics, and postbiotics. Paraprobiotics offer various health benefits in children with intestinal dysbiosis, contributing to improved digestive health, immune function, and overall well-being. In this review, the potential of these therapeutic applications as alternatives to pharmacological agents for treating pediatric intestinal dysbiosis will be thoroughly evaluated. This includes an analysis of their efficacy, safety, long-term benefits, and their ability to restore gut microbiota balance, improve digestiv... Read More

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Introduccin. En los ltimos 25 aos el uso de probiticos ha tenido una metamorfosis importante gracias a la ciencia mica, abarcando una prolfera informacin cientfica y por ende un incremento en la utilizacin clnica. Los probiticos se definen como microorganismos vivos, que cuando se administran en cantidades adecuadas, confieren beneficios para la salud al husped. Cada da se evidencia la asociacin entre la microbiota intestinal y el estado de salud de las personas, por lo tanto, es importante analizar desde la evidencia cientfica cules son los probiticos tiles para determinadas patologas peditricas. Objetivo. Proporcionar a la comunidad mdica un anlisis exhaustivo acerca del uso de probiticos y establecer recomendaciones para la poblacin peditrica. Material y mtodos. Esta gua fue desarrollada por un equipo multidisciplinario con apoyo de la Asociacin Colombiana de Probiticos y Prebiticos y el Colegio Colombiano de Gastroenterologa, Hepatologa y Nutricin Peditricas. Se desarrollaron mesas de trabajo para seleccionar las preguntas de inters clnico,... Read More

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Probiotic supplementation in preterm neonates is standard practice in many centres across the globe. The impact of probiotic supplementation in the neonatal age group on the risk of hospitalisation in infancy has not been reported previously.

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Probiotic<i> Lactobacillus </i>reuteri has been shown to be useful for a number of gastrointestinal disorders. Its ability to secrete antimicrobial compounds, prevent pathogenic microorganisms from colonizing the host, and alter the composition of the commensal microbiota in the host are all major contributors to its therapeutic advantages. Not only that, but L. reuteri treatment strengthens the host's defenses against infection and pro-inflammatory cytokine production while enhancing the growth and functionality of regulatory T cells. Numerous pediatric illnesses, particularly those pertaining to the intestinal health of infants, have been found to be well managed by L. reuteri, according to systematic reviews and meta-analyses. According to current research on L. reuteri, it may be useful in the management and avoidance of a number of common clinical disorders, including functional constipation, infantile colic, regurgitation, and diarrhea. Probiotic treatment for pediatric illnesses has had favorable benefits on bowel regularity in individuals ... Read More

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Probiotics are non-pathogenic living microorganisms and can encourage the growth of other microbes that can benefit the host's health when consumed in sufficient quantities. The aim of this study was to explore the role of probiotics in the management of diarrhea or constipation in children by clarifying their effectiveness, safety and mechanism of action. The type and design of this research is observational analysis with a literature review method. Data was collected from national and international journal publications via scientificdirect.com and pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov which met the inclusion criteria, namely research examining the role of giving probiotics to children suffering from diarrhea or constipation, research that has been published in the last ten years using data primary and secondary data as well as cross-sectional and cohort research designs. The dependent variable in this study is the outcome of diarrhea or constipation, and the independent variable is probiotics. Data analysis was carried out narratively. This research found that in children suffering from diarrhea... Read More

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Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits to the host when administered in adequate amounts. Although recommendations for probiotic use should be strain-specific, many systematic reviews, including recommendations from different societies, recommend probiotic use in general, providing no relevant information for healthcare professionals regarding which probiotic to recommend for which clinical indication, at what dose, and for how long. This narrative review aimed to present the available evidence on the use of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of common gastrointestinal diseases in children, considering the strain and dose used. Furthermore, this study summarizes the evidence on the possible side effects and quality of products containing probiotics.

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Probiotic microbes are increasingly being given to infants with the intent of reducing the risk and severity of conditions associated with intestinal dysbiosis, such as necrotizing enterocolitis and late-onset sepsis in preterm infants and colic and antibiotic-associated diarrhea in those born at term. There is also some evidence that bacterial colonization and its alterations can affect the timing of onset and severity of atopy and asthma in children. Despite extensive and increasing evidence to support the use of probiotics, the decision of using live organisms in infants evokes some hesitation. There are also uncertainties regarding the timing of introduction and data for selection of the most appropriate product, dose, and target population. Additionally, the availability of specific probiotic products and regulatory oversight varies by country, raising concerns regarding the safety and efficacy of specific probiotic products. In this chapter, we have summarized the current information on the types of probiotics, timing of colonization, effects, likely mechanism(s) of action, and... Read More

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This review investigates the impact of bioactive molecules produced by probiotics on child health, focusing on their roles in modulating gut microbiota, enhancing immune function, and supporting overall development. Key metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bacteriocins, exopolysaccharides (EPS), vitamins, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), are highlighted for their ability to maintain gut health, regulate inflammation, and support neurodevelopment. Clinical studies demonstrate that specific probiotics and their metabolites can reduce gastrointestinal disorders, enhance immune responses, and decrease the incidence of allergies and respiratory infections in pediatric populations. Additionally, postbioticsbioactive compounds from probiotic fermentationoffer promising benefits, such as improved gut barrier function, reduced inflammation, and enhanced nutrient absorption, while presenting fewer safety concerns compared to live probiotics. By examining the mechanisms of action and clinical evidence, this review underscores the potential of integrating probiotics and p... Read More

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Probiotics are live microbial supplements that improve the microbial balance in the host animal when administered in adequate amounts. They play an important role in relieving symptoms of many diseases associated with gastrointestinal tract, for example, in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), antibiotic-associated diarrhea, relapsing Clostridium difficile colitis, Helicobacter pylori infections, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this narrative review, the authors aim to evaluate the role of different probiotic formulations in treating gastrointestinal diseases in pediatric population aged 18 years or younger and highlight the main considerations for selecting probiotic formulations for use in this population.

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Based on existing systematic reviews and meta-analyse we conducted this comprehensive review to evaluate the quality, effectiveness, and bias of evidence regarding the relationship between probiotic intake and improved constipation outcomes in children. A total of nine meta-analyses and systematic reviews were extracted from 628 articles, summarizing seven effectiveness indicators and the incidence of adverse reactions in the treatment of constipation. According to the results, our study revealed that the intake of probiotics in children with FC significantly improved treatment success rate and defecation frequency, while decreased the recurrence rate of constipation. However, no significant association was detected between probiotics intake and frequency of abdominal pain, stool consistency, frequency of defecation pain, frequency of fecal incontinence of children with FC. The intake of probiotics did not increase the incidence of adverse reactions and demonstrated good safety.

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Journal Article RE: Position Statement: Using probiotics in paediatric populations, PCH Dec 2022, 27, 482491 Get access Richard S Taylor, MB BS FRCPC Richard S Taylor, MB BS FRCPC Neonatologist, Department of Pediatrics, University of Victoria, BC, Canada [email protected] Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Paediatrics & Child Health, Volume 28, Issue 5, August 2023, Page 267, https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/pxad028 Published: 03 June 2023 Article history Received: 13 February 2023 Published: 03 June 2023

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Certain nutrients cause discomfort, sensitivity reaction, and an intolerance for certain foods or their ingredients when ingested by some consumers. Food reactions and gut inflammation-related problems are increasing worldwide. The primary form of management would be the avoidance of such foods, followed by treatment of their symptoms. Adopting a nutritionaltherapeutic approach and establishing practices for the inclusion of functional foods and nutraceuticals in the diet could improve the ecology of gut microbiota and alleviate inflammation in the GIT. For this purpose, specific species of microorganisms characterized as probiotic strains have been studied to produce functional food and fermented beverage products. Commercially sold, such items are labelled as probiotic products, displaying the name/s of strain/s and the viable numbers of them contained in the portion size of the products. The importance of the growth of probiotic functional foods is that they can be consumed as a source of nutrition and their intake helps in the subsistence and recuperation of friendly gut bacteri... Read More

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Despite the high prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders (GIDs) in infants and children, especially those categorized as functional GIDs (FGIDs), insufficient knowledge about their pathophysiology has limited both symptomatic diagnosis and the development of optimal therapies. Recent advances in the field of probiotics have made their potential use as an interesting therapeutic and preventive strategy against these disorders possible, but further efforts are still needed. In fact, there is great controversy surrounding this topic, generated by the high variety of potential probiotics strains with plausible therapeutic utility, the lack of consensus in their use as well as the few comparative studies available on probiotics that record their efficacy. Taking into account these limitations, and in the absence of clear guidelines about the dose and timeframe for successful probiotic therapy, our review aimed to evaluate current studies on potential use of probiotics for the prevention and treatment of the most common FGIDs and GIDs in the pediatric population. Furthermore, matters refe... Read More

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Probiotics are live microorganisms used in small amounts for health benefits. Nowadays they are used orally also, especially in children in order to combat dental caries. However, of late they have also found many new applications. This article summarizes the applications of such oral probiotic supplements in various forms in children.

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The composition of the human gut microbiota, which can also be regulated by the consumption of probiotics, has a significant impact on host health. The main source of probiotics can be foods such as fermented foods, yogurts, fermented drinks and/or probiotic supplements. While parents play a critical role in ensuring the well-being of their children, this cross-sectional study is focused on parents' perspectives regarding the use of probiotics in the preschool period.The self-administered online survey consisted of 24 questions arranged across two thematic sections. The final data analysis included 102 parents (96% F; 4% M), aged between 22 and 47. Their children were aged up to 6 years.The majority (52%) of the parents were familiar with the term 'probiotics' and 86.3% were including probiotics in their children's diet at the time of the survey. The main source was probiotic food (36.3%), of which yoghurt was the most commonly consumed (87.2%). The inclusion of probiotic supplements in a child's diet was positively correlated with parents' consumption and level of knowledge about th... Read More

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Probiotic supplementation is associated with health benefits in preterm infants. The 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) statement on probiotic use advised caution, citing heterogeneity and absence of federal regulation. We assessed the impact of the AAP statement and current institution-wide patterns of probiotic use across neonatal intensive care units (NICU) across the United States.

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WGO is pleased to announce the publication of the updated Probiotics and Prebiotics Guideline. This project was led by Prof. Francisco Guarner, MD, PhD, a clinical gastroenterologist and clinical researcher in probiotics and prebiotics in Spain, and brought together experts in gastroenterology, pediatrics, family medicine, probiotics, and prebiotics. Prof. Hania Szajewska MD, PhD, a clinical pediatrician and clinical researcher in probiotics from the Medical University of Warsaw, Poland, was integral to assessing evidence for pediatric populations for the guidelines. Mary Ellen Sanders, PhD of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) co-chaired the project. The Review Team of international experts consisted of Henry Cohen (Uruguay), Rami Eliakim (Israel), Claudia Herrera (Guatemala), Tarkan Karakan (Turkey), Dan Merenstein (USA), Alejandro Piscoya (Peru), Balakrishnan Ramakrishna (India), and Seppo Salminen (Finland). The use of probiotics and prebiotics in the practice of gastroenterology must be guided by evidenceand with new evidence continua... Read More

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Abstract This statement defines probiotics and reviews the most recent literature on their use in paediatrics. Many studies have examined the potential benefit of probiotics, but significant variation in the strains and doses of probiotics used, the patient populations studied, and in study design, have led to heterogeneous results. Present evidence suggests that probiotics can decrease mortality and lower incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm and low birth weight neonates. Probiotics may also be beneficial in reducing feeding intolerance. In infants, probiotics may be considered to reduce symptoms of colic. In older children, probiotics can be considered to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. Probiotic supplements used in conjunction with standard therapy can help with Helicobacter pylori eradication and decrease the side effects of treatment. Lactobacillus species can be considered to treat irritable bowel syndrome. Probiotics can also be considered to help prevent atopic dermatitis and eczema. To optimize paediatric pol... Read More

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Postbiotics are commonly defined as preparations of inanimate probiotics and/or their cellular components and/or their metabolites/end products that confer health benefits on the host. They have been suggested as a promising strategy to limit infectious diseases. Emerging evidence support the efficacy of the postbiotic derived from cows milk fermentation with the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus paracasei CBAL74 (FM-CBAL74) in preventing pediatric infectious diseases. We aimed at reviewing the evidence available.

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See the article "Ability of polymicrobial probiotic and mono-strain probiotic to reduce functional abdominal pain in children: a randomized clinical trial" via https://doi.org/10.3345/cep.2022.00339.

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Introduccin: Los probiticos son microorganismos vivos que brindan beneficios al husped mediante diversos mecanismos de accin. Han sido fuente de estudio en diversas patologas peditricas mostrando algunos resultados prometedores. Objetivo: Elaborar una revisin sistemtica sobre los mecanismos de accin y la evidencia actual que tienen los probiticos sobre la salud infantil. Materiales y mtodos: Se realiz una revisin narrativa de la literatura con estrategia de bsqueda sistemtica de la literatura con trminos MESH acerca de los mecanismos de accin de los probiticos y su uso. Se incluyeron metaanlisis, revisiones sistemticas y ensayos clnicos aleatorizados. Resultados: Los probio?ticos son una nueva herramienta teraputica usada para mejorar la salud infantil. Se ha encontrado efecto benfico en diarrea, en enterocolitis necrosante con una disminucin significativa de la mortalidad y se ha mostrado evidencia significativa en las horas de llanto en clico del lactante. Conclusin: Se requieren ms estudios en otro tipo de enfermedades como estreimiento y en algunos pro... Read More

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Probiotics have been extensively studied and examined globally. Probiotics are extremely important for human health and encourage the growth of good bacteria in the human body. Probiotics exert its beneficial effect in the human body through a number of mechanisms, including the production of antibacterial chemicals, the eradication of pathogenic bacteria, and the prevention of the synthesis of toxic substances. Probiotics are now available in the market as functional foods and dietary supplements. The probiotics market is expected to increase from $35.6 billion in 2015 to $64.6 billion in 2023. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria are the most commonly used probiotics in the infant formulas. Probiotics are extremely beneficial for the gut health. Various factors disrupt the microflora of gastrointestinal tract of infants and cause various GI infections and diseases. Methods: Previous articles have been studied to develop this review article about a broad spectrum of pediatric disorders treated with probiotics. Probiotics are helpful in the prevention of irritable bowel syndrome, constip... Read More

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Probiotics given to preterm infants not only persist but restructure early-life microbiota, which presents an opportunity to optimize developmental outcomes and a responsibility to fully understand the long-term consequences.

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A multispecies probiotic used in a randomized clinical trial did not reduce the risk of pediatric antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) caused by either Clostridioides difficile or otherwise unexplained cause, but it did reduce the overall risk of diarrhea, a secondary outcome.

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Infantile colic is one of the most common health issues that can occur during an infant's first months of life, affecting approximately 20% of all infants. The aetiology of infantile colic is not well understood; however, studies have suggested that changes in the intestinal microbiota can lead to symptoms of infantile colic. For this reason, different strains of probiotics have been studied to help understand their effectiveness in the treatment of infantile colic.The aim of this evidence-based review is to summarise the evidence of the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment of infantile colic.Several strains of probiotics have been studied, with some presenting positive results for reducing the symptoms of infantile colic in groups with specific characteristics. However, more studies are required to evaluate efficacy and effectiveness of probiotics in different degrees of severity and in larger and more heterogenous samples.

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Probiotics are live bacteria that are consumed or administered to the body to provide health advantages. They are in yoghurt and other fermented food consumer, as well as dietary supplements and cosmetics too. After birth, the mouth of the infant is richly colonized immediately. The different probiotic microorganisms present in infants are Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus albicans, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus gasseri. Some of these can exhibit some powerful anti-inflammatory capabilities. For the novel application of probiotics in pediatric nutrition, there is a new concept in the composition of the microbiota. In probiotic food, it contains healthy microorganisms, which helps in the safe gut association with lymphoid tissue in infants. Traditionally, probiotics have been associated with gut health, and most clinical interest has been focused on their use for the prevention or treatment of gastrointestinal infections and diseases; however, during the last decade, several investigators have also suggested the use of probiotics for oral health purpose... Read More

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THE IMPORTANCE OF PROBIOTICS AND PREBIOTICS IN PEDIATRIC DISORDERS Kholdarova Gulsanam Akramjon qizi Student, Namangan institute of engineering and technology, Uzbekistan, Namangan   ABSTRACT Probiotics and prebiotics have a ma

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Objectives This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of probiotics for infantile colic in infants younger than four months of age.

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Current literature related to the impact of probiotics on the incidence of gastrointestinal tract infections (GITIs) has shown mixed results and no systematic review available with pooled analysis exists. Thus, the aim of this systematic review was to provide contemporary evidence regarding the overall and strain-specific influence of probiotics in preventing GITIs among infants and children attending childcare centres. The review shortlisted 18 RCTs after screening through the initial search results of 779 articles. However, only 15 trials were deemed eligible, addressing at least one outcome in the pooled analysis. It is concluded that the supplementation of probiotics (overall effect) may reduce the risk of GITI episode by 26%, with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Limosilactobacillus reuteri and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG being specifically potent probiotic strains in reducing GITI episode, duration of infection and absence from childcare respectively. There is insufficient evidence to determine the effect of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 based on the findings of... Read More

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Preterm birth, C-sections, antibiotics, and limited breastfeeding contribute to the increase in noncommunicable diseases. Our objective was to perform a descriptive review of probiotic use in pediatrics, focused on Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Certain probiotics have demonstrated to be effective in acute diarrhea and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. L. rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii may shorten their duration and symptoms. L. reuteri DSM 17938 and L. rhamnosus GG were effective to manage infant colic. The use of this strain in infant formulas for cow's milk protein allergy may promote an earlier tolerance acquisition. In relation to the prevention of atopic dermatitis, the administration of L. rhamnosus GG during pregnancy reduced its development in the infant. The use of probiotics as adjuvants is a possibility to consider in current pediatric practice.El parto prematuro, las cesreas, los antibiticos y la lactancia materna limitada contribuyen al aumento de enfermedades crnicas no transmisibles. El objetivo fue realizar una revisin descriptiva del uso de probiticos en p... Read More

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This article outlines current concepts of probiotic drugs and probiotic foods for children, provides the list of gastrointestinal disorders in children that can be considered as indications for probiotics, as well as their mechanism of action. Particular attention is paid to probiotic use according to the criteria of evidence-based medicine. The review also focuses on the positive role of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis in the treatment and prevention of gastroenterological disorders in children, both as part of pharmacotherapy and enriched food products. Key words: intestinal microbiota, dysbiosis, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, probiotics, probiotic foods for children

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Background: Probiotics, defined as live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host, are widely used despite uncertainty regarding their efficacy and discordant recommendations about their use. The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Special Interest Group on Gut Microbiota and Modifications provides updated recommendations for the use of probiotics for the management of selected pediatric gastrointestinal disorders. Methods: All systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses, as well as subsequently published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (until December 2021), that compared the use of probiotics in all delivery vehicles and formulations, at any dose, with no probiotic (ie, placebo or no treatment), were eligible for inclusion. The recommendations were formulated only if at least 2 RCTs on a similar well-defined probiotic strain were available. The modified Delphi process was used to establish consensus on the recommendations. Results: Recommendations for the use of specific probiotic... Read More

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Microbial colonization of the digestive tract during infancy is an essential process for our existence. The implication of the microbiome in the causes and development of various diseases and its possible application in their treatment, with its modulation with the use of probiotics and prebiotics, has gained unusual scientific interest in recent years, a claim supported by numerous research projects. In pediatrics, increasing importance is given to the use of probiotics and prebiotics at any age to treat various diseases, mainly gastrointestinal problems, although they are also used successfully in allergies and in the prevention of infections. At the same time, research is opening the door to future applications such as obesity and behavioral disorders such as autism.

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On November 10, 2021, an online meeting of the expert council was held on the conference platform of the First Medical Channel. The subject was Diarrhea differential diagnosis depending on its pathogenesis in pediatric practice, the role of probiotic medications in its treatment. Leading Russian experts in the field of clinical pharmacology, gastroenterology, pediatrics, infectious diseases, and allergology-immunology took part in this meeting. As a result of the meeting, the main principles of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diarrhea in children were formulated, and an algorithm for using probiotics to treat diarrhea in children was developed. Conclusion. It is preferable to prescribe medicinal probiotics (with registration status) than a dietary supplement containing probiotic bacteria. Medicinal products containing a combination of strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12, vitamins B1 and B6, which are approved for use in pediatric practice, are recommended for administration in diarrhea and in suspected antibiotic-associated... Read More

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The literature considers children both a risk group for administering probiotic strains and one of the populations that can most benefit from it. Due to the health benefits associated to probiotic supplementation, this scope review sought to formulate a critical evaluation of how Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, carried in food and non-food matrices, and experimental design may affect the health promotion of infants and children. In this study, a literature search was conducted in three scientific databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and SciELO to retrieve research, published in English or Spanish, which administered L. rhamnosus GG to infants and children with any disease or in eutrophic condition. Three reviewers with an expert supervision screened 540 articles, published between 2001 and 2022, which were retrieved from the databases. The data extracted was compiled and shown in this scoping review. In total, was included, after criteria observation, 44 articles in this review. Intestinal disorders were the most frequent outcome in these studies (36.4%) and capsules, the most common ... Read More

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This article reviews the evidence for the use of different strains of probiotics in the prevention of prevalent pathologies in premature infants. A systematic review was conducted of the use of probiotics in neonates with less than 37 weeks gestational age, based on a search for systematic reviews and observational and experimental studies performed during the period January 2014 to February 2021. For this purpose, the PubMed, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases were consulted. The aim of this article was to review the existing data on the relationship between the administration of probiotics (with different strains and doses) and the risk of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), mortality, late sepsis and other disease parameters in premature infants. The literature search obtained 240 articles, of which we selected 16, representing a total sample of over 200,000 premature infants. Analysis of the data obtained reveals statistical evidence that the combined administration of probiotics (especially Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains) reduces the incidence of grade II or higher ... Read More

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Probiotics are commonly prescribed to promote a healthy gut microbiome in children. Our objective was to investigate the effects of probiotic supplementation on growth outcomes in children 0-59 months of age. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis which included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that administered probiotics to children aged 0-59 months, with growth outcomes as a result. We completed a random-effects meta-analysis and calculated a pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) or relative risk (RR) and reported with a 95% confidence interval (CI). We included 79 RCTs, 54 from high-income countries (HIC), and 25 from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). LMIC data showed that probiotics may have a small effect on weight (SMD: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.11-0.42, grade-certainty = low) and height (SMD 0.16, 95% CI: 0.06-0.25, grade-certainty = moderate). HIC data did not show any clinically meaningful effect on weight (SMD: 0.01, 95% CI: -0.04-0.05, grade-certainty = moderate), or height (SMD: -0.01, 95% CI: -0.06-0.04, grade-certainty = moderate). There was no evidence... Read More

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A common adverse effect of antibiotic use is diarrhea. Probiotics are living micro-organisms, which may prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) by the normalization of an unbalanced gastrointestinal flora. The objective of this review was to assess the benefits and harms of probiotics used for the prevention of AAD in patients based on literature findings. Thus review of the literature using bibliographic databases and abstracting systems such as PubMed (1978- 2020) and Cochrane was conducted to find the effects of probiotics and compare AAD and CDI in both pediatric and adult populations and determine significant differences and similarities that might impact clinical decisions. In general, pediatric AAD and CDI have a more rapid onset of symptoms, a shorter duration of disease and fewer CDI complications (required surgeries and extended hospitalizations) than in adults. Literature studied revealed the finding that suggests that probiotic use in both adult and populations may be beneficial in the prevention of AAD among patients. Furthermore, the use of probiotics appears to be... Read More

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The issue of feasibility and effectiveness of probiotics use in newborns is still discussable. A position letter of the Committee on nutrition of the European Society for Pediatric NutritionGastroenterology, Hepatology, and(ESPGHAN) and the Working group of the ESPGHAN on probiotics and prebiotics issues was published in May 2020 in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition magazine as for the use of probiotics in premature newborns. The third part of the literature continues with the position paper and the results of many randomized controlled clinical trials of probiotics. The article considers the answers to 6 clinical questions posed by the working group of the Committee to assess the feasibility of use, routes of administration, dosage and duration of use, as well as the effectiveness and quality of probiotic drugs. It was proved that probiotics, in general, could decrease the level of necrotising enterocolitis, sepsis, and mortality. On the other hand, an increasing number of commercial products containing probiotics of non optimal quality are available. In addition, a large n... Read More

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The issue of feasibility and effectiveness of probiotics use in newborns is still discussable. A position letter of the Committee on nutrition of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) and the Working group of the ESPGHAN on probiotics and prebiotics issues was published in May 2020 in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition magazine as for the use of probiotics in premature newborns. It stated that over 10,000 premature newborns from all over the world had taken part in random controlled probiotics tests. It was proved that probiotics, in general, could decrease the level of necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, and mortality. But the question of choice of microorganism strains, dosing, and duration of medication course remains open. On the other hand, an increasing number of commercial products containing probiotics of non optimal quality are available. In addition, a large number of departments in the world regularly suggest probiotic supplements as a treatment standard despite the absence of any solid evidence. According to the da... Read More

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Abstract Background Probiotics are used frequently in the pediatric population for treatment of diarrhea and promotion of gastrointestinal health. Lactobacillus is the most commonly used bacterial genus in probiotic formulations. Lactobacillus spp. has been a reported cause of bacteremia, particularly in immunocompromised populations and individuals with impaired gut integrity. To assess the risks and benefits of inpatient probiotic use in a pediatric tertiary care center, we aimed to identify the occurrence of Lactobacillus bacteremia among hospitalized patients and its association with probiotic use over an eleven-year period. Methods Cases of Lactobacillus bacteremia were identified through a search of positive blood culture reports from January 1st, 2010 through December 31st, 2020. The clinical chart for each case was independently reviewed for the following risk factors: documented probiotic uses, presence of a central venous catheter, immunocompromising condition or immunosuppressive agent, neutropenia, impaired intestinal function and age below 3 months. Additionally, we revi... Read More

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The potential benefit of the administration of probiotics in children has been studied in many settings globally. Probiotics products contain viable micro-organisms that confer a health benefit on the host. Beneficial effects of selected probiotic strains for the management or prevention of selected pediatric conditions have been demonstrated. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of current available evidence on the efficacy of specific probiotics in selected conditions to guide pediatricians in decision-making on the therapeutic or prophylactic use of probiotic strains in children. Evidence to support the use of certain probiotics in selected pediatric conditions is often available. In addition, the administration of probiotics is associated with a low risk of adverse events and is generally well tolerated. The best documented efficacy of certain probiotics is for treatment of infectious gastroenteritis, and prevention of antibiotic-associated, Clostridioides difficile-associated and nosocomial diarrhea. Unfortunately, due to study heterogeneity and in some cases high... Read More

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A probiotic formulation combining Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52, Bifidobacterium infantis Rosell-33, and Bifidobacterium bifidum Rosell-71 with fructooligosaccharides, first commercialized in China, has been sold in over 28 countries since 2002. Clinical studies with this blend of strains were conducted mainly in pediatric populations, and most were published in non-English journals. This comprehensive review summarizes the clinical studies in infants and children to evaluate the efficacy of this probiotic for pediatric indications. Literature searches for pediatric studies on Biostime or Probiokid (non-commercial name) in 6 international and Chinese databases identified 28 studies, which were classified by indications. Twelve studies show that the probiotic significantly increases the efficacy of standard diarrhea treatment regardless of etiology, reducing the risk of unresolved diarrhea (RR 0.31 [0.23; 0.42]; p < 0.0001) by 69%. In eight studies, the probiotic enhanced immune defenses, assessed by levels of various immune competence and mucosal immunity markers (six st... Read More

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Probiotic products in the United States are available for use in the general category of dietary supplements, bypassing the rigor of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process in safety, efficacy, and manufacturing standards. As a result, currently available probiotics lack FDA-approved drug labeling and cannot be marketed to treat or prevent disease in preterm infants, including necrotizing enterocolitis and late-onset sepsis. Despite lack of availability of a pharmaceutical-grade product, the number of preterm infants receiving probiotics in the United States and Canada is steadily increasing. According to recent reports from large collaborative databases in the United States, approximately 10% of extremely low gestational age neonates receive a probiotic preparation during their stay in the NICU, with wide variation in practice among units. In sum, more than 10 000 preterm infants have been enrolled in randomized clinical trials of probiotic supplementation worldwide. Methodologic differences among study protocols included different strains and combinations of ther... Read More

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Alimentos fermentados y probiticos en nios. La importancia de conocer sus diferencias microbiolgicasFermented foods and probiotics for children.The importance of knowing their microbiological differences

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Probiotics are recommended, among others, in the diet of children who are under antibiotic therapy, or that suffer from food allergies or travel diarrhea, etc. In the case of toddlers taking probiotic preparations, it is highly recommended to first remove the special capsule, which normally protects probiotic strains against hard conditions in the gastrointestinal tract. Otherwise, the toddler may choke. This removal can impair probiotic survival and reduce its efficacy in a toddlers organism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the survivability of five strains of lactic acid bacteria from the commercial probiotics available on the Polish market under simulated conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Five probiotics (each including one of these strains: Bifidobacterium BB-12, Lactobacillus (Lb.) rhamnosus GG, Lb. casei, Lb. acidophilus, Lb. plantarum) were protective capsule deprived, added in a food matrix (chickenvegetable soup) and subjected under simulated conditions of the gastric and gastrointestinal passage. Strain survivability and possibility to growth were evaluated.... Read More

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The probiotic fermented milk products hold a specific place in the children diet. As a rule, the pediatricians, when advising the parents, are guided by the characteristics of both strains used as the ferment and the probiotic strains included into the food product. It is important that the microorganisms are safe, shelf stable and able to survive in the gastrointestinal tract. The use of the probiotic fermented milk products has a positive effect on the child health, as follows: anti-infectious and immunomodulatory effects, it helps to normalize the motion of the gastrointestinal tract. These provisions shall be supported with the controlled studies.

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