TABLE 1.
Characteristics of all intervention studies with probiotics included in the review
| Authors | Age | Country | Health status | Children receiving antibiotics | Intervention duration | Probiotic intervention | Control | Vehicle | Growth as primary or secondary outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agustina et al. (40) | 1–6 y | Indonesia | Healthy | Excluded | 6 mo | 5 × 108 CFU L. casei CRL 431 per day (n = 120); 5 × 108 CFU L. reuteri DSM 17938 per day (n = 124) | Placebo (n = 126) | Straws with oil in low-lactose milk | Secondary |
| Grenov et al. (41) | 6–59 mo | Uganda | Severely acutely malnourished | Included | From hospitalization to 8 or 12 wk after discharge | 5 × 109 CFU B. animalis ssp. lactis and 5 × 109 CFU L. rhamnosus GG per day (n = 138) | Placebo (n = 142) | Sachet with maltodextrin | Secondary |
| Hemalatha et al. (42) | 2–5 y | India | Healthy | Excluded | 9 mo | 2–5 × 109 CFU L. paracasei Lpc-37 (ATCC SD5275) per day (n = 105); 2–5 × 109 CFU B. animalis ssp. lactis HN019 (AGAL NM97/09513) per day (n = 113) | Placebo (n = 108) | Milk | Secondary |
| Kara et al. (43) | 0.5–5 y | Turkey | Stunted/underweight and hospitalized | Excluded | 3 mo | 109 CFU L. rhamnosus GG per day (n = 38) | Received nothing additional (n = 33) | Drops | Secondary |
| Kusumo et al. (44) | 2–24 mo | Indonesia | Healthy | Excluded | 90 d | 1.61 × 1010 CFU L. plantarum IS-10506 per day (n = 9); 1.61 × 1010 CFU L. plantarum IS-10506 per day + zinc (n = 10) | Placebo (n = 11); placebo + zinc (n = 8) | Powder with maltodextrin | Secondary |
| Mai et al. (45) | 3–5 y | Vietnam | Nutrient-deprived | Excluded | 12 wk | 6.5 × 109 CFU L. casei strain Shirota per day (n = 510) | Received nothing additional (n = 493) | Fermented milk | Secondary |
| Nopchinda et al. (34) | 6–25 mo | Thailand | Not described | Not described | 6 mo | 1.5 × 109 CFU B. animalis ssp. lactis per day (n = 36); 7.5 × 108 CFU B. animalis ssp. lactis + 7.5 × 108 CFU S. thermophilus per day (n = 23) | Placebo (n = 25) | Milk formula | Primary |
| Saran et al. (46) | 2–5 y | India | Generally undernourished and stunted | Not described | 6 mo | 5 × 107 CFU L. acidophilus per day (n = 50) | 2 biscuits as isocaloric replacement (n = 50) | Curd | Primary |
| Silva et al. (47) | 2–5 y | Brazil | Not described | Not described | 101 class days | 108 CFU L. acidophilus 5 d/wk (n = 69) | Placebo (n = 39) | Milk drink | Secondary |
| Sur et al. (48) | 1–5 y | India | Not described | Not described | 12 wk | 6.5 × 109 CFU L. casei strain Shirota per day (n = 1654) | Placebo (n = 1663) | Nutrient drink | Secondary |
| Surono et al. (49) | 15–54 mo | Indonesia | Healthy | Excluded | 90 d | 2.31 × 108 CFU E. faecium IS-27526 per day (n = 39) | Placebo (n = 40) | UHT low-fat milk | Secondary |