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Martinelli M, Banderali G, Bobbio M, Civardi E, Chiara A, D'Elios S, Lo Vecchio A, Olivero M, Peroni D, Romano C, Stronati M, Turra R, Viola I, Staiano A, Villani A. Probiotics' efficacy in paediatric diseases: which is the evidence? A critical review on behalf of the Italian Society of Pediatrics. Ital J Pediatr 2020; 46:104. [PMID: 32711569 PMCID: PMC7382135 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-020-00862-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During the last decade several paediatric studies have been published with different possible indications for probiotics, leading to a global increase of probiotics' market. Nevertheless, different study designs, multiple single/combined strains and small sample size still leave many uncertainties regarding their efficacy. In addition, different regulatory and quality control issues make still very difficult the interpretation of the clinical data. The objective of this review is to critically summarise the current evidence on probiotics' efficacy and safety on a different number of pathologies, including necrotizing enterocolitis, acute infectious diarrhoea, allergic diseases and functional gastrointestinal disorders in order to guide paediatric healthcare professionals on using evidence-based probiotics' strains. To identify relevant data, literature searches were performed including Medline-PubMed, the Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases. Considering probiotics strain-specific effects, the main focus was on individual probiotic strains and not on probiotics in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Martinelli
- Department of Translational Medical Science, Section of Pediatrics, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini, 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Banderali
- Clinical Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, San Paolo Hospital, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Elisa Civardi
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Alberto Chiara
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Sofia D'Elios
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pediatrics, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Lo Vecchio
- Department of Translational Medical Science, Section of Pediatrics, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini, 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Diego Peroni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pediatrics, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudio Romano
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Mauro Stronati
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Irene Viola
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Annamaria Staiano
- Department of Translational Medical Science, Section of Pediatrics, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini, 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
| | - Alberto Villani
- Pediatric and Infectious Disease Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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