Impact of Probiotics on the Prevention and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Diseases in the Pediatric Population

Despite the high prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders (GIDs) in infants and children, especially those categorized as functional GIDs (FGIDs), insufficient knowledge about their pathophysiology has limited both symptomatic diagnosis and the development of optimal therapies. Recent advances in the field of probiotics have made their potential use as an interesting therapeutic and preventive strategy against these disorders possible, but further efforts are still needed. In fact, there is great controversy surrounding this topic, generated by the high variety of potential probiotics strains with plausible therapeutic utility, the lack of consensus in their use as well as the few comparative studies available on probiotics that record their efficacy. Taking into account these limitations, and in the absence of clear guidelines about the dose and timeframe for successful probiotic therapy, our review aimed to evaluate current studies on potential use of probiotics for the prevention and treatment of the most common FGIDs and GIDs in the pediatric population. Furthermore, matters referring to know major action pathways and key safety recommendations for probiotic administration proposed by major pediatric health agencies shall also be discussed.

Automated summary

Despite the lack of knowledge about the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal disorders (GIDs) in infants and children, recent advances in probiotics have opened up the potential for their use as a therapeutic and preventive strategy against these disorders. However, there is controversy and a lack of consensus regarding the use of probiotics, as well as limited comparative studies on their efficacy. This review aims to evaluate current studies on the use of probiotics for the prevention and treatment of common GIDs in the pediatric population, as well as discussing major action pathways and safety recommendations proposed by pediatric health agencies.