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Abstract: Infant regurgitation is common during infancy and can cause substantial parental distress. Regurgitation can lead to parental perception that their infant is in pain. Parents often present in general practitioner surgeries, community baby clinics and accident and emergency departments which can lead to financial burden on parents and the health care system. Probiotics are increasingly reported to have therapeutic effects for preventing and treating infant regurgitation. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of probiotic supplementation for the prevention and treatment of infant regurgitation. Literature searches were conducted using MEDLINE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled trials. Only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included. A meta-analysis was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration methodology where possible. Six RCTs examined the prevention or treatment with probiotics on infant regurgitation. A meta-analysis of three studies showed a statistically significant reduction in regurgitation episodes for the probiotic group compared to the placebo group (mean difference [MD]: −1.79 episodes/day: 95% confidence interval [CI]: −3.30 to −0.27, N = 560), but there was high heterogeneity (96%). Meta-analysis of two studies found a statistically significant increased number of stools per day in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group at 1 month of age (MD: 1.36, 95% CI: 0.99 to 1.73, N = 488), with moderate heterogeneity (69%). Meta-analysis of two studies showed no statistical difference in body weight between the two groups (MD: −91.88 g, 95% CI: 258.40–74.63: I2 = 23%, N = 112) with minimal heterogeneity 23%. Probiotic therapy appears promising for infant regurgitation with some evidence of benefit, but most studies are small and there was relatively high heterogeneity. The use of probiotics could potentially be a noninvasive, safe, cost effective, and preventative positive health strategy for both women and their babies. Further robust, well controlled RCTs examining the effect of probiotics for infant regurgitation are warranted.
Keywords: infant, infant regurgitation, probiotic, reflux
Published in DKUM: 13.08.2024; Views: 79; Downloads: 6
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Abstract: Uvod: Življenjska doba se povečuje, s starostjo pa prihaja do različnih sprememb v imunskem sistemu, ki vodijo v povečano tveganje za nastanek okužb, od katerih so najpogostejše okužbe gastrointestinalnega in respiratornega trakta. Zato so številne raziskave usmerjene v preprečevanje infekcij dihal pri tej populaciji z namenom izboljšanja kakovosti življenja. Pomembno vlogo pri ohranjanju zdravja starejših oseb ima uravnotežena črevesna mikrobiota, ki posredno vpliva na imunski sistem. Probiotiki izkazujejo koristno podporo črevesni mikrobioti. Z doktorsko disertacijo smo želeli raziskati, kakšna je vloga promocije zdravja in preventivne uporabe probiotikov pri preprečevanju okužb zgornjih dihal. Metode: Izvedena je bila dvojno slepa, s placebom kontrolirana klinična študija z uporabo večsevnega probiotika OMNi-BiOTiC® Active. V raziskavi so bili uporabljeni validirani anketni vprašalniki: mini prehranska anamneza (MNA), vprašalnik o zdravju EQ-5D-5L, vprašalnik o kakovosti življenja (SF-36) in profil zdravega življenjskega sloga II (HPLP II). Zbrane podatke smo analizirali s statističnim programom SPSS (IBM SPSS 28.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Uporabljeni so bili opisna statistika, t-test za neodvisne vzorce, Mann-Whitneyjev U-test, t-test za odvisne vzorce, hi-kvadrat test in Fisherjev eksaktni test. Rezultati: V klinično študijo je bilo vključenih 32 (33,7 %) moških in 63 (66,3 %) žensk. Povprečna starost udeležencev študije je bila 70,3 ± 4,8 leta; moških 72,1 ± 4,8 leta in žensk 69,3 ± 4,5 leta. V skupino, ki je prejemala probiotik, je bilo razporejenih 49, v skupino placebo pa 46 starejših oseb. Populacija je bila normalne prehranjenosti, saj je bil povprečni vmesni rezultat orientacijskega testa MNA 13,2 ± 1,1. Pojavnost okužb zgornjih dihal ni pokazala statistično značilne razlike med obema skupinama (p = 0,52449). Udeleženci klinične študije, ki so uživali probiotike, so imeli statistično značilno (p = 0,011) krajši čas trajanja bolezni, in sicer 3,1 ± 1,6 dneva, medtem ko je bil čas trajanja v placebo skupini 6,0 ± 3,8 dneva. Rezultati kažejo, da se starejše osebe premalo udeležujejo delavnic promocije zdravja in da lahko preventivna uporaba probiotikov pomaga skrajšati trajanje poteka bolezni. Razprava: Promocija zdravja ima ključno vlogo pri zagotavljanju kakovosti življenja pri starejši populaciji. Za izboljšanje zdravja starejše populacije sta potrebna sistemski pristop ter nudenje skupinskega in tudi individualnega izobraževanja. Ugotovitve naše raziskave kažejo, da je priporočljivo uživanje večsevnih probiotikov pri starejših osebah, saj lahko pripomorejo k lažji obliki akutne okužbe zgornjih dihal. Večsevni probiotiki imajo različne še neraziskane učinke na zdravje, zato so možnosti nadaljnjega raziskovanja odprte na številnih področjih.
Keywords: promocija zdravja, probiotiki, starejše osebe, okužba zgornjih dihalnih poti
Published in DKUM: 29.07.2024; Views: 105; Downloads: 33
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Abstract: The mother and infant form a unique bond, with maternal mental health affecting the interactions with the infant and infant behaviours impacting maternal mental health. One of the possible mechanisms influencing maternal mental health is the manipulation of the gut-brain axis by consuming probiotic supplements. Probiotics can also have an indirect influence on maternal mental health via the modulation of the infant microbiome and consequently improving the infant’s health and thus, indirectly leading to an improvement in maternal mood. This systematic review evaluated the efficacy of probiotics on maternal mental health by searching for randomised controlled trials via international databases: Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science until January 2022. A meta-analysis was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration methodology where possible. We found seven clinical trials that included the word probiotics and addressed maternal depression and/or anxiety. Of these, five trials investigated the influence of maternal probiotic supplementation on the gut-brain axis. Two trials investigated the indirect influence of probiotics on maternal depression via supplementation of probiotics by infants and subsequent influence on the crying of colicky infants. Meta-analysis of two studies of pregnant and postnatal women and two studies of infants consuming probiotics on the outcome of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for mothers showed no statistical difference. The findings indicate that maternal depression is very complex and is influenced by various bidirectional factors. One of the factors that can improve maternal mental health is probiotics, however, careful consideration must be given to correct strain selection as strain-specific effectiveness was observed. Further well-designed, robust clinical studies are warranted.
Keywords: probiotics, pregnancy, postpartum, depression, prevention, psychobiotics
Published in DKUM: 05.07.2024; Views: 147; Downloads: 6
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Abstract: Background: Fermented foods are staples of the human diet and fermentation process has been used by humans for thousands of years. The preparation of fermented foods was performed in the past without knowledge of the role of microorganisms involved. Nowadays, fermented foods, due to their proclaimed health benefits for consumers, are becoming increasingly popular. Our study was constructed to provide data on awareness and use of fermented foods among people in North-eastern Slovenia. Methods: The cross-sectional study included 349 individuals (16–89 years of age). An online survey was designed to assess the participants' knowledge of fermentation, fermented foods, the consumption of fermented foods and awareness of the health benefits. Data were collected from March to June 2021 and analyzed using IBM SPSS 27.0. Results: Compared with the youngest participants (< 21 years) knowledge of fermentation was higher in older individuals (p < 0.001). More than a half of the participants recognized the role of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts in fermentation process, however, only 18.3% of participants were aware of the role of the molds. Only 25.9% of the participants have become acquainted with fermented foods at home and 62.2% of them were aware of health benefits of fermented foods, but mostly on gastrointestinal health and the immune system. Conclusions: As people today live predominantly in urban areas and incline towards westernized foods, they often lack the knowledge of fermentation and awareness regarding the nutritional value of fermented foods and their preparation. Steps should be taken to educate younger generations regarding the health benefits of fermented foods especially considering that most of them expressed their interest in learning more about the process.
Keywords: fermentation, fermented foods, health benefits, knowledge, microorganisms
Published in DKUM: 04.07.2024; Views: 101; Downloads: 9
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Abstract: Probiotics are known for their positive effects on the gut microbiota. There is growing evidence that the infant gut and skin colonization have a role in the development of the immune system, which may be helpful in the prevention and treatment of atopic dermatitis. This systematic review focused on evaluating the effect of single-strain probiotic lactobacilli consumption on treating children's atopic dermatitis. Seventeen randomized placebo-controlled trials with the primary outcome of the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index were included in the systematic review. Clinical trials using single-strain lactobacilli were included. The search was conducted until October 2022 using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Cochrane library and manual searches. The Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Meta-analyses and sub meta-analyses were performed using Cochrane Collaboration methodology. Due to different methods of reporting the SCORAD index, only 14 clinical trials with 1124 children were included in the meta-analysis (574 in the single-strain probiotic lactobacilli group and 550 in the placebo group) and showed that single-strain probiotic lactobacilli statistically significantly reduced the SCORAD index compared to the placebo in children with atopic dermatitis (mean difference [MD]: -4.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -7.50 to -1.49; Z = 2.93; p = 0.003; heterogeneity I-2 = 90%). The subgroup meta-analysis showed that strains of Limosilactobacillus fermentum were significantly more effective than strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei or Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus. A longer treatment time and younger treatment age statistically significantly reduced symptoms of atopic dermatitis. The result of this systematic review and meta-analysis shows that certain single-strain probiotic lactobacilli are more successful than others in reducing atopic dermatitis severity in children. Therefore, careful consideration to strain selection, treatment time and the age of the treated patients are important factors in enhancing the effectiveness of reducing atopic dermatitis in children when choosing probiotic single-strain lactobacilli.
Keywords: probiotics, lactobacilli, atopic dermatitis, children, meta-analysis, systematic review
Published in DKUM: 16.02.2024; Views: 409; Downloads: 29
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