Probiotic supplementation during pregnancy or infancy for the prevention of asthma and wheeze: systematic review and meta-analysis

Study answer

What this study found

Perinatal probiotic supplementation did not reduce doctor-diagnosed asthma or childhood wheeze, and the current trial evidence does not support probiotics for primary prevention of these outcomes. Across nine trials (3257 children), asthma risk was RR 0.99 (95% CI 0.81 to 1.21; I2=0%), and wheeze across nine trials (1949 children) was RR 0.97 (0.87 to 1.09; I2=0%). Lower respiratory tract infections were numerically higher with probiotics in six trials (1364 children; RR 1.26, 0.99 to 1.61; I2=0%). Withdrawal due to perceived side effects was uncommon and not clearly different from control…

Study & population

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 20 randomized trials in pregnant women and infants, comparing probiotic supplementation with placebo or no probiotic.

Intervention

Probiotic supplementation was tested during pregnancy, infancy, or both, with maternal dosing typically starting in the third trimester and some regimens continuing after delivery in mothers and infants.

Key limitation

Several outcomes were based on a limited number of trials and children, and follow-up may have been insufficient to fully capture later asthma.

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Original abstract