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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