Probiotics are among the top selling supplement products on the market. They’re particularly popular for use in children. Be prepared to answer questions about some of the most common uses in kids.
Colic might come up. If parents ask about this, explain that there’s growing evidence supporting the use of probiotics for the treatment of colic, but not prevention. A recent meta-analysis of clinical research shows that giving probiotics to infants with colic reduces daily crying by an average of 51 minutes. Most of these studies used Limosilactobacillus reuteri. Other clinical research shows that Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 reduces crying and crying episodes. As for safety, both L. reuteri and B. animalis are likely safe in children of most ages – but explain that it’s not clear if other probiotic species will reduce colic symptoms.
Parents might also ask about whether probiotics can prevent eczema in their kids. Explain that the overall evidence on this is promising, particularly for products containing various lactobacilli species. A recent meta-analysis shows that giving infants probiotics reduces eczema in kids by 22% compared with placebo. Also, using probiotics during pregnancy and breast-feeding reduces the risk of the child developing eczema by 27-49%. But more research is needed to confirm which species, if any, might be most beneficial.
In the hospital world, the use of probiotics in the neonatal intensive care unit for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has been a point of controversy. While giving multi-strain probiotic products to low-birth-weight infants seems to help prevent this serious intestinal disease from developing, there are growing safety concerns and conflicting guidance from regulatory agencies about this use. Late last year the FDA issued a warning that preterm infants are at risk for serious infections from the bacteria and fungi in probiotics due to reported cases in preterm infants weighing below 1000 grams. And the American Academy of Pediatrics does not support the use of probiotics in preterm infants. Conversely, the American Gastroenterological Association continues to conditionally recommend probiotics for this use.
We’ll keep you updated as new evidence and guidance on probiotic use in children and infants comes out. Check out our recently updated probiotics monograph for more details.
The information in this brief report is intended for informational purposes only, and is meant to help users better understand health concerns. This information should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Users should consult with a qualified healthcare provider for specific questions regarding therapies, diagnosis and/or health conditions, prior to making therapeutic decisions. Copyright © 2024 NatMed. Commercial distribution or reproduction prohibited. NatMed is the leading provider of high-quality, evidence-based, clinically-relevant information on natural medicine, dietary supplements, herbs, vitamins, minerals, functional foods, diets, complementary practices, CAM modalities, exercises and medical conditions. Monograph sections include interactions with herbs, drugs, foods and labs, contraindications, depletions, dosing, toxicology, adverse effects, pregnancy and lactation data, synonyms, safety and effectiveness.
