Probiotic supplementation in well children: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Microbiome Research
• Public Health

Background:

• Probiotic supplements are increasingly considered for various pediatric health issues.
• Understanding the prevalence of probiotic use in well children is crucial for public health insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map the existing literature on probiotic use in healthy children.
• To determine the prevalence of probiotic consumption among this population.
• To identify factors associated with probiotic use in children.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review methodology was employed, searching multiple databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, HealthSource, SAGE) and grey literature sources.
• The PRISMA extension for scoping reviews guided the process, with quality assessed using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool.
• Seven studies encompassing 24,742 children were included in the analysis.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of probiotic use in healthy children ranged significantly, from 4% to 51%.
• Key predictors for probiotic use included parental probiotic consumption, higher maternal education, and increased household income.
• Limited information was available on specific probiotic strains used, reasons for administration, or perceived parental efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Despite widespread reported use, there is a scarcity of high-quality studies detailing probiotic prevalence in healthy children.
• Inadequate data exists regarding specific strains, usage rationales, and perceived effectiveness, highlighting a need for further research.
• Parental information sources for probiotics are predominantly the internet and personal networks.