Benefits of probiotics in children

Probiotic Benefits for Children

Most people appreciate the value of pro and prebiotics in children who have had antibiotics or diarrhoea, but the blog GreenMedInfo  lists a spectacular number of benefits (the web link can be seen by clicking on the green link words), especially to do with infections and allergies.   
This is not totally surprising as we are now realising the importance of gut health, the bacteria in our gut, the immune component of the gut and relationship to many of today's diseases.
Maybe we should be giving them regularly to our kids (as well as ourselves) from the time they start taking solids.

1. There is evidence to suggest probiotics are safe and effective in treating persistent diarrhea in children.
2. Saccharomyces boulardii has therapeutic properties in the treatment of acute diarrhea in children.
3. Lactic acid bacteria as probiotics reduce the risk for infantile eczema.
4. Probiotic and prebiotic supplementation improves the symptoms of children with atopic dermatitis.
5. Probiotics and prebiotics significantly prevent eczema and atopic eczema in infants.
6. Supplementation of mothers and their babies with the probiotic Lactobacillus reuterireduces IgE-associated eczema and may reduce respiratory allergic disease later in life.
7. A probiotic mixture has positive effects on symptoms of constipation in children.
8. Bifidobacterium infantis and Lactobacillus acidophilus reduces the incidence and severity of necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants.
9. Lactobacillus reuteri and Bifidobacterium lactis supplementation of children fed formulareduces adverse events, e.g. antibiotic use, diarrhea, etc.
10. Long term use of probiotics and synbiotics reduce the incidence and severity of respiratory diseases during the cold season.
11. Probiotic bacteria reduce the duration and severity of common cold episodes.
12. Probiotic therapy has therapeutic value in treating Klebsiella infection in children.
13. Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri reduce the duration of diarrhea in children with mild gastroenteritis.
14. "Prophylactic probiotics for preterm infants reduces mortality."
15. Saccharomyces boulardii is an effective adjuvant in treating acute childhood diarrhea. 
16. Lactobacillus reuteri significantly shortens the duration of watery diarrhea associated withrotavirus gastroenteritis in children between 6 and 36 months.
17. Probiotics demonstrate immunomodulatory effects in atopic pediatric patients by increasing the TH1 immune response which counterbalances the dominant TH2 immune response.
18. Saccharomyces boulardii inhibits Escherichia coli infection in children.
19. Probiotic strains from breast milk are superior to antibiotics in the treatment of infectious mastitis.
20. Human breast milk contains Lactobacillius strains which are effective in the treatment ofmastitis during lactation.
21. Probiotics prophylaxis was as effective as antibiotic prophylaxis in children with persistent primary vesicoureteral reflux.
22. Lactobacillus reuteri accelerates gastric emptying and improves regurgitation in infants.
23. The consumption of fermented milk with Lactobacillus casei in lactating mothers has a positive effect on the mother and offspring's immunological status.
24. Acne may respond favorably to probiotics due to their involvement in normalizing the gut-brain-skin axis.
25. Probiotics prevent IgE-associated allergy until age 5 years in cesarean-delivered children.
26. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis are safe and effective in reducing early otitis media and antibiotic use and the risk of respiratory infections during the first year of life.
27. Postnatal probiotic and prebiotic treatment is safe and increases resistance torespiratory infections during the first 2 years of life.