Probiotics supplementation in children with asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 30051941 · doi:10.1111/jpc.14126
What was done
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing probiotics to placebo in children with asthma. Electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CNKI, CQ VIP, and Wanfang Data) were searched up to November 2017 along with reference lists of included studies and pertinent reviews.
What was found
Eleven trials with 910 children were included. The proportion of children with fewer asthma episodes was significantly higher with probiotics than placebo (risk ratio 1.3, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.59). Probiotics significantly reduced IL-4 (mean difference -2.34, 95% CI -3.38 to -1.29) and increased interferon-gamma (mean difference 2.5, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.76). No statistically significant differences were found for the childhood asthma control test, day or night asthmatic symptoms, symptom-free days, forced expiratory volume in the first second predicted, or peak expiratory flow.
Why it matters
While probiotics appear to modulate inflammatory cytokines and may reduce asthma episode frequency, current evidence does not demonstrate improvements in core clinical symptom control or lung function metrics.
Limits
The total sample size across 11 trials is small (910 participants). The abstract reports no data on probiotic strains, doses, or treatment durations, and no risk-of-bias assessment details are provided.
Cited by
- supports Probiotic strains have demonstrated therapeutic effects in clinical trials for childhood diarrhea and asthma.