Association of Probiotics with Atopic Dermatitis among Infant: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Background. Previous studies have explored the relationship between probiotics and risk of atopic dermatitis among infant; however, the results are still inconclusive. We aimed to assess the abovementioned association. Methods. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were retrieved for association between probiotics and atopic dermatitis with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) until Nov 20, 2021. The effect size was pooled by using random or fixed effect models according to the heterogeneity. Stata 12.0 was used for meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis, and bias analysis. Results. At the end of the screening article, 2575 infants were extracted from 8 trials and finally met the qualification criteria. In comparison to placebo, probiotics dramatically reduced incidence of childhood atopic dermatitis ( RR = 0.86 , 95% CI = 0.78 -0.95). However, probiotics did not exhibit benefit over placebo in preventing the development of either IgE-associated infant AD ( RR = 0.98 , 95% CI = 0.79 -1.22) or sensitive constitution ( RR = 0.93 , 95% CI = 0.81 -1.08). From the results of sensitivity and publication bias, we found that these results were robust with little publication bias. Conclusion. During the late stages of pregnancy, women taking probiotics could lower the risk of infantile atopic dermatitis, but not for IgE-associated infant AD or sensitive constitution. The results could provide evidence for the fibrosis. Future studies are needed to confirm the results.

The effect of probiotics in the prevention of atopic dermatitis in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Sun et al conducted a meta-analysis of 17 RCTs involving a total of 4,011 children and found that probiotic intervention had a significant benefit in preventing eczema in children [RR (95% CI) =0.59 (0.45, 0.78)] ( 57 ). Pan et al conducted a meta-analysis of eight RCTs involving a total of 2,575 newborns and found that probiotics can effectively prevent AD [RR (95% CI) =0.86 (0.78, 0.95)] ( 58 ). Probiotics can stimulate intestinal immunoglobulin A (IgA), reduce the adhesion of pathogenic bacteria, and form tight junctions with intestinal epithelial cells to decrease intestinal permeability ( 59 ).…”

Improvements in Gut Microbiome Composition Predict the Clinical Efficacy of a Novel Synbiotics Formula in Children with Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis

“…However, study results are inconsistent and mixed, with some groups reporting the positive beneficial effect of probiotics in alleviating AD symptoms and mitigating the risk of AD, but others reporting no effect [ 44 , 45 ]. Despite the ongoing debate on the best practices of probiotic use in treating AD, a number of recent meta-analyses have pooled several clinical trials [ 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ] and shown that certain probiotic strains [ 52 , 53 , 54 ], such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis , may be effective in reducing AD symptoms in children. In addition, mixed probiotic strains with a longer treatment duration have apparently demonstrated better effects in children aged > 1 year [ 46 ].…”