Probiotics and Prebiotics in Children

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, ILThe American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Nutrition reviewed the literature and science on the health benefits of probiotics and prebiotics given to children in various delivery methods, including food, infant formula and supplements. They published their findings Nov. 29 online ahead of print in AAPs Pediatrics journal.

Researchers Dan Thomas, M.D., and Frank Greer, M.D., acknowledged randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown a modest benefit from probiotics in treating acute viral gastroenteritis and preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in healthy children. They further noted some evidence these beneficial ingredients prevent necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants (between 1000 and 1500 g), but called for more studies to confirm the early results and elucidate the benefits. Similarly, the reviewers concluded RCTs involving probiotics in the treatment Helicobacter pylori gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic ulcerative colitis (UC) and infantile colic in children are encouraging, but preliminary and need to be confirmed by future trials.

Conversely, they found no evidence of probiotics in the treating children with Crohns disease, nor in treatment or prevention of any cancer. Further, they highlighted safety concerns with the use of probiotics in infants and children who have compromised immune function, as well as those who are chronically debilitated or seriously ill.

On prebiotics, the reviewers reported these stimulators of probiotic bacteria may have exhibited some long-term benefits in a small number of RCTs on atopic eczema and common infections in healthy infants, but more well-designed clinical trials are needed to strengthen these preliminary findings.