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Updated: Nov 5, 2025
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Published on: January 27, 2019
The prevention effect of probiotics against eczema in children: an update systematic review and meta-analysis
Shuya Sun1, Guizhen Chang2, Litao Zhang3
1Graduate school, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
Insights
Probiotic supplements during pregnancy and infancy can significantly lower the risk of infant eczema and atopic eczema. This strategy shows promise for preventing these common allergic skin conditions in early childhood.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Microbiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Fetal intestinal flora imbalance is linked to allergic disease development.
- Probiotic supplementation during pregnancy and childhood may prevent atopic diseases.
- Evidence suggests a role for gut microbiota in immune system development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the efficacy of probiotic supplementation in pregnancy and infancy for preventing eczema, atopic eczema, and other allergic diseases.
- To investigate the influence of different probiotic strains and intervention targets on antiallergic and atopy prevention effects.
- To assess the long-term impact of probiotic interventions on allergic outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 relevant studies.
- Utilized fixed-effect models and random-effects models where heterogeneity was present.
- Expressed results as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Main Results:
- Probiotic supplementation significantly reduced the risk of eczema and atopic eczema compared to controls, particularly with combination probiotics.
- Maternal probiotic intake was effective in decreasing the risk of eczema and atopic eczema.
- Probiotics showed efficacy in eczema prevention up to 2 years of age and atopic eczema prevention after 1 year of age.
- No significant preventive effects were observed for asthma, rhinitis, wheeze, or general allergic diseases/sensitization.
Conclusions:
- Probiotic supplementation represents a potential novel strategy for preventing infant eczema and atopic eczema.
- Targeted probiotic interventions, especially maternal supplementation, show promise for specific allergic skin conditions.
- Further research may refine probiotic use for optimal prevention of infant allergic diseases.
Abstract:
Accumulated evidences support the fetus's intestinal flora unbalance is associated with the development of allergic diseases. Probiotic supplements in pregnancy and childhood might prevent atopic diseases. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of probiotic supplementation during pregnancy and early infancy in preventing eczema, atopic eczema, and other allergic diseases. We also explored whether different probiotic strains or intervention objects affected the antiallergic effect of probiotics and the prevention atopy effect of the long-term period. Fixed-effect models were used, and random-effects models where significant heterogeneity was present. Results were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Twenty-one studies were included in the meta-analysis. The probiotics group had a significantly lower risk of eczema and atopic eczema compared to controls, especially those treated with probiotic combinations. Mothers' probiotics intake significantly contributed to reducing the risk of eczema as well as atopic eczema. What's more, probiotics seemed effective on eczema prevention ≤2 years of age, but against atopic eczema after 1 of age year. No significant difference in terms of prevention of asthma, rhinitis, wheeze, allergic diseases and sensation. In brief, a probiotic supplement is expected to become a novel potential strategy for infant eczema and atopic eczema.
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