Probiotics, Prebiotics & Food allergy Prevention: Clinical Data in Children

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Immunology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Growing evidence links infant intestinal microbiota to allergic disease development.
• Studies have explored manipulating gut microbiota to prevent infant allergies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review studies investigating the prevention of allergic diseases in infancy through intestinal microbiota manipulation.
• To synthesize current evidence on the use of probiotics and prebiotics for allergy prevention.

Main Methods:

• Review of interventional studies on probiotics and prebiotics for allergy prevention.
• Analysis of meta-analyses published in 2015.
• Application of the GRADE methodology for guideline development.

Main Results:

• Interventional studies yielded conflicting results regarding probiotics and prebiotics in allergy prevention.
• Two meta-analyses in 2015 reconciled existing data.
• Guidelines now recommend probiotics and prebiotics for allergy prevention, especially for eczema.

Conclusions:

• Current guidelines suggest probiotics and prebiotics for infant allergy prevention, with a focus on eczema.
• Probiotics should be considered as a class due to a lack of evidence for strain-specific superiority.
• Further research may clarify optimal use and specific strains for different allergic conditions.