Probiotics Fail to Protect Against Eczema or Asthma

Use of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in the first 6 months of life did not prevent development of eczema or asthma later in childhood.

The hygiene hypothesis suggests that exposure to bacteria at critical times in the immune system's development may have beneficial effects by reducing the risk for developing allergic diseases. Researchers randomized 184 high-risk infants ≤4 days old to receive either a capsule containing 10 billion colony-forming units of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) probiotic or a control capsule daily for the first 6 months of life. The infants were followed for 5 years.

The primary outcome was the incidence of eczema within 2 years of birth; the secondary outcome was the incidence of asthma and allergic rhinitis within 5 years of birth. All mothers were encouraged to breast-feed; 51% and 45% of the infants in the intervention and control arms, respec…

Reviewing Author

Louis M. Bell, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality National Center for Pediatric Practice Based Research Learning; Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Editorial BoardsCurrent Problems in Pediatric Adolescent Healthcare

Leadership Positions in Professional Societies College of Physicians of Philadelphia (Board of Trustees)

Louis M. Bell, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsCurrent Problems in Pediatric Adolescent Healthcare

Leadership Positions in Professional Societies College of Physicians of Philadelphia (Board of Trustees)

Probiotics Fail to Protect Against Eczema or Asthma

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Reviewing Author