Abstract
This is a narrative review, largely of randomized trials on the impacts of probiotics. It concludes that evidence for beneficial effects of selected probiotics in the prevention of gastrointestinal disorders is limited mainly to acute gastroenteritis, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, infantile colic and necrotizing enterocolitis. However, there is no broad consensus to recommend the use of probiotics in the prevention of these conditions, mainly because of the different designs used in different studies, resulting in limited evidence for specific strains, dosages and indications. More well-designed studies utilizing standardized methodologies are needed before recommendations can be proposed. At this stage, there is insufficient evidence to recommend the routine use of probiotics in infants and children for the prevention of gastro-intestinal disorders.
Highlights
The microbiome is the totality of all the microbial cells that colonize the human body and their genes
This is a narrative review, largely of randomized trials on the impacts of probiotics. It concludes that evidence for beneficial effects of selected probiotics in the prevention of gastrointestinal disorders is limited mainly to acute gastroenteritis, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, infantile colic and necrotizing enterocolitis
There is no broad consensus to recommend the use of probiotics in the prevention of these conditions, mainly because of the different designs used in different studies, resulting in limited evidence for specific strains, dosages and indications
Summary
Data indicate that selected probiotic strains are likely to prevent acute gastroenteritis, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, infantile colic and necrotizing enterocolitis. There is insufficient evidence for a global recommendation. Since adverse effects are extremely rare, one might recommend the products that were shown beneficial in the above-mentioned indications, considering that patients may only profit, since "there is no harm and since there may be some benefit."
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