Probiotics for pediatric diarrhea and constipation: an umbrella meta-analysis.

IF 2 3区医学 Q2 PEDIATRICS

BMC Pediatrics Pub Date : 2025-10-02 DOI:10.1186/s12887-025-06002-y

Le Chen, Yan Wang, Xiao Liu, Haioun Wong, Chengjiao Huang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: The current evidence regarding the impact of probiotics on diarrhea and constipation outcomes in children is inconclusive. This umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses aims to deliver a comprehensive and conclusive summary of the effectiveness of probiotics in managing these conditions in pediatric populations.

Methods: Meta-analyses were collected from Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and the Web of Science until May 2025. The overall effect size was calculated using a random effect model.

Results: This umbrella study comprises a systematic review of 35 studies. Our findings illustrated that probiotics reduce diarrhea incidence (ES = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.68, P < 0.001; I2 = 91.2%, p < 0.001) compared to the control group, meaningfully. Also, it is successful in reducing diarrhea duration (WMD = -1.85; 95% CI: -2.83, -0.86, P < 0.001; I² = 94.7%, p- <0.001; SMD = -0.94; 95% CI: -1.32, -0.56, P < 0.001; I² = 88.4%, p- <0.001) significantly. Probiotics had no significant effect on stool frequency (WMD = 0.22; 95% CI: -0.30, 0.74, P = 0.414, I² = 82.7%, P = 0.003; SMD= -0.22; 95% CI: -1.25, 0.81, P = 0.674). Probiotics prevent diarrhea by about 53% (ES = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.32, 0.71, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: This meta-analyses highlights the potential benefits of probiotics in improving diarrhea outcomes in children, demonstrating a reduction in both the incidence and duration of diarrhea following probiotic supplementation.

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益生菌治疗小儿腹泻和便秘：一项综合荟萃分析。

背景：目前关于益生菌对儿童腹泻和便秘结局影响的证据尚无定论。本综述的系统评价和荟萃分析的目的是提供一个全面和结论性的有效性益生菌管理这些条件在儿科人群。方法：荟萃分析从Scopus， PubMed， Embase和Web of Science收集到2025年5月。总体效应量采用随机效应模型计算。结果：本总括性研究包括35项研究的系统综述。我们的研究结果表明，益生菌可降低腹泻发生率（ES = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.68, P - 2 = 94.7%, P - 2 = 88.4%）。结论：该荟萃分析强调了益生菌在改善儿童腹泻结局方面的潜在益处，表明补充益生菌后腹泻发生率和持续时间均有所减少。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

BMC Pediatrics PEDIATRICS-

CiteScore

3.70

自引率

4.20%

发文量

683

审稿时长

3-8 weeks

期刊介绍： BMC Pediatrics is an open access journal publishing peer-reviewed research articles in all aspects of health care in neonates, children and adolescents, as well as related molecular genetics, pathophysiology, and epidemiology.