Comparative Probiotic Strain Efficacy in the Prevention of Eczema in Infants and Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Issue 6 (1st June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mansfield, Joseph A.; Bergin, Samuel W.; Cooper, James R.; Olsen, Cara H.
• Is Part Of: Military medicine. Volume 179:Issue 6(2014)
• Page Start: 580
• Page End: 592
• Publication Date: 2014-06-01
• Subjects: Surgery, Military -- Societies, etc; Medicine, Military -- Societies, etc; Medicine, Military -- Periodicals; Surgery, Military -- Periodicals; Medicine, Military; Surgery, Military; Military Medicine -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.98023
• DOI: 10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00546
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0026-4075

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: Eczema affects 3.5% of the global population, with peak prevalence during infancy. Eczema has no cure, but probiotics have been suggested as a preventative measure. Objective: To comprehensively analyze the impact of prenatal and postnatal probiotic supplementation on the prevention of infantile and childhood eczema. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and PubMed were searched for randomized controlled trials regarding probiotic usage and eczema development from 1945 to 2013. Participants included were 7 years old or younger with probiotic exposure in utero or below 6 months of age and who was not diagnosed previously. Results: 27 publications describing 16 studies assessing 10 probiotics in 2, 797 participants met our criterion. The pooled relative risk of all the studies, 0.74 (95% confidence interval 0.67, 0.82), indicated that probiotic supplementation in the first several years of life did have a significant impact on development of eczema. During evaluation of the studies, heterogeneity of terms and definitions for similar primary and secondary outcomes were identified. Conclusion: The use of probiotic supplements during pregnancy and/or during infancy creates a statistically significant decline in the incidence of eczema. The heterogeneity of terms and definitions regarding eczema is the major limitation of these studies.