Probiotics

 

Some foods and supplements include—naturally or by design—live microorganisms that are reputed to produce health benefits. These microorganisms are called probiotics. Because of these anticipated benefits, probiotics have become a billion-dollar industry that continues to grow worldwide. Are they safe to give to babies? Do they lead to better health and wellness?

Competing Opinions

Perspective #1: Probiotics replenish your child’s “good bacteria” and help the body function properly. They are harmless and exist naturally in many foods, offering benefits related to a baby’s skin, gut, and brain.

Perspective #2: We don’t know enough about probiotics to give them to babies at this time. There’s a chance, of course, that they might do some good, but there’s also the possibility that they could cause harm and lead to health problems down the road. It’s best to be cautious and avoid them.

What the Science Says

RESEARCH ON PROBIOTICS in general shows some promising results in terms of improving health. But authorities and investigators consistently caution that persuasive evidence is still lacking. For one thing, defining exactly what’s meant by the term “probiotics” isn’t always easy, in a scientific sense, given that it refers to such a broad subject—live microorganisms that can aid in healing and health. Since there are so many different categories of probiotics, including different types of bacteria, and so many ways that various manufacturers produce and market them, reliable research is hard to come by. Not only that, the wide variety creates problems for governmental oversight agencies, since the products fall under assorted regulatory bodies with varying requirements about demonstrating whether a product is safe and effective.

A 2019 document from the National Institutes of Health explains that as a result, “the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any probiotics for preventing or treating any health problem. Some experts have cautioned that the rapid growth in marketing and use of probiotics may have outpaced scientific research for many of their proposed uses and benefits.”

When it comes to the benefits of giving probiotics to babies, the scientific community is even less confident. Some studies have published findings indicating that probiotics produced negative results in terms of infant health. One study even found that “probiotic exposure during infancy has limited effects on gut microbial composition yet is associated with increased infection later in life.”

Yet several other investigations show positive outcomes in terms of producing good effects relating to skin disorders, colic, diarrhea, and even neuropsychiatric disorders. Still, even these studies contain, almost without exception, some version of the old “but these results are preliminary and will need to be replicated” line. What’s more, there are so many different strains of probiotics, and they work so differently on different children according to their ages and stages of life, that it’s difficult to say with certainty how much good they will actually do once they’re turned into commercial products.

Because of this uncertainty, organizations including the AAP, the WHO, and the Committee on Nutrition of the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition have all called for more research and/or oversight before they will conclude that probiotic products are safe and effective for children.

The Bottom Line

IN A FEW more years, we may have a reason to give our youngest children probiotics, confident that they will be building gut health, or preventing eczema, or warding off other maladies. Or we may determine the opposite. The point is that right now, we just don’t know for sure. The research isn’t there, nor is the ability to adequately regulate probiotics as commercial products. Therefore, if you’re curious, or inclined to explore the possible benefits probiotics may offer, talk to your trusted pediatrician with this information in mind. Otherwise, this is one item you can cross off your list.