Should you give Probiotics to your Children?

Our bodies can naturally do these things, and eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet may be enough for your children to stay healthy as they grow. However, there are certain illnesses which paeditrician may recommend parents to get probiotics supplements for their children.

1. Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea:

Did you know antibiotics can lead to diarrhea? Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is a condition that the passing loose and watery stools occur more than 3 times a day after taking any form of antibiotics. This happens because antibiotics often disrupt the natural balance of nonpathogenic bacterial flora in our intestine. This will cause bad bacteria to grow and reproduce rapidly and eventually lead to diarrhea (2,3). However, probiotics consist of good bacterias that can help restore this balance by encouraging the immune system of the gut, thus, helping in preventing diarrhea from happening. 

2. Infectious Diarrhea:

Rotavirus is the most common contagious virus that causes infectious diarrhea among infants. The virus developed in the small intestine area and the normal microflora of the gut plays an important role to fight the infection (4). Hence, consuming the right dosage probiotics supplements or food can help increase the growth of the good bacteria in the intestine. It is proven from well-controlled clinical research that certain types of probiotics can reduce the duration of acute rotavirus diarrhea (5). Based on the studies, probiotics work as a blockage agent for the secretory and motility defenses from the virus as well as boosting the immune response of the intestine and produce certain substances that directly disable the viral fragment.

3. Lactose Intolerance:

Lactose intolerance is a genetic condition. It refers to when our body cannot transform lactose into monosaccharides and galactose. When lactose travels to the large bowel, our body will recognize this substance as bacterial enzymes. This will cause the person with lactose intolerant to have diarrhea, abdominal discomfort and flatulence after consuming dairy products (1). Probiotics with the correct concentration and specific species may help individuals with lactose intolerance to reduce the symptoms (6).

4. Allergy:

Probiotics have been shown to reduce the risk of allergies and eczema in baby and children by modulating the immune response. Probiotics help to improve mucosal barrier function which helps to control the allergic response. These health benefits of probiotics involve food allergy and atopic dermatitis or eczema (1). Certain types of probiotics have been proven to lower the eczema severity and prevent the recurrence of the eczema especially in high risk babies. However, research shows that probiotics have little effect on allergies such as rhinitis and asthma (7).

In addition, probiotics also good for adult with milk hypersensitivity. Milk hypersensitivity is a cow’s milk allergy where our immune system reacts differently to certain type of protein found in the milk, this condition is different than lactose intolerant.  Adults with milk hypersensitivity (allergy to cow’s milk) show positive response toward probiotics treatment, nevertheless more research is still needed (8). 

Should You Give Probiotics Supplements to Children?

Overall, probiotics can be a beneficial addition to a child's diet to support their overall health and well-being. However, it's important to note that not all probiotics are created equal, and different strains may have different effects. it is recommended that parents need to consult with a healthcare professional before giving any sort of supplements to your child, including probiotics. Probiotics may interfere with certain medications, especially for kids going through chemotherapy or who have recently had surgeries.

Dietary supplements aren’t regulated by the Federal Food & Drug Administration (FDA), so there are no official recommendations for doses or the length of time to take them.

References

1. Kechagia M, Basoulis D, Konstantopoulou S, Dimitriadi D, Gyftopoulou K, Skarmoutsou N, Fakiri EM. Health benefits of probiotics: a review. 2013. ISRN Nutrition. DOI: 10.5402/2013/481651
2. Madsen KL. 2001. The use of probiotics in gastrointestinal disease. Can J Gastroenterol. 15(12):817-822. DOI: 10.1155/2001/690741
3. Saavedra JM. 1999. Probiotics plus antibiotics: regulating our bacterial environment. J Pediatr. 135(5):535-537. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(99)70046-6
4. S.Salminen, C. Bouley, M. C. Boutron-Ruault et al. 1998. Functional food science and gastrointestinal physiology and function. British Journal of Nutrition 80(1): S147-S171. DOI: 10.1079/bjn19980108
5. N.P. Shah. 2007.Functional cultures and health benefits. International Dairy Journal 17(11): 1262-1277. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idairyj.2007.01.014
6. K.M. Levri, K. Ketvertis, M. Deramo, J.H. Merenstein & F. D’Amico. 2005. Do probiotics reduce adult lactose intolerance? A systematic review. Journal of Family Practice 54(7): 613-620. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16009090/
7. J.G. Wheeler, S.J. Shema, M.L. Bogle et. al. 1997. Immune and clinical impact of Lactobacillus acidophilus on asthma. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 79(3): 229-233. DOI: 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)63007-4
8. L. Pelto, S.J. Salminen & E. Isolauri. 1996. Lactobacillus GG modulates milk-induced immune inflammatory response in milk-hypersensitive adults. Nutrition Today 31(6): 45S-46S. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.1998.00449.x