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Probiotic supplement use among young children in Taiwan: a prospective cohort study

Yi-Chun Chen1, Yi-Wen Chien, Pei-Jen Chang

  • 1School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. yichun@tmu.edu.tw

Plos One
|September 18, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Probiotic supplement use is common in Taiwanese children, often linked to social advantages and health issues like eczema. Parents may use probiotics for disease prevention or treatment in young children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Microbiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Probiotic supplement use in infants and young children is a growing area of interest.
  • Understanding factors influencing probiotic use is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To detail probiotic supplement consumption patterns in young children in Taiwan.
  • To identify demographic and health-related factors associated with probiotic use.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Taiwan Birth Cohort Study database.
  • Collected information via questionnaires on probiotic use from birth to 18 months.
  • Excluded specific infant groups and incomplete responses, analyzing 16,991 valid cases.

Main Results:

  • Around 50% of children used probiotics before 18 months; only 6.3% used them consistently.
  • Probiotic use was higher in firstborns, children of native mothers, and those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Breastfed infants, and those with eczema or gastrointestinal issues, showed increased probiotic use.

Conclusions:

  • Probiotic use in young children correlates with socioeconomic advantage and specific health conditions.
  • Parents may administer probiotics for preventative or therapeutic reasons.
  • Findings provide a baseline for future research and inform healthcare professionals on infant probiotic consumption.
Abstract

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