Using probiotics in clinical practice: Where are we now? A review of existing meta-analyses.
Mariangela RondanelliMilena Anna FalivaTariq A AlalwanAttilio GiacosaGabriella PeroniAnna Maria CastellazziPublished in: Gut microbes (2017)
The scientific literature has demonstrated that probiotics have a broad spectrum of activity, although often the results are contradictory. This study provides a critical overview of the current meta-analyses that have evaluated the efficacy of probiotics in physiologic and pathological conditions, such as metabolic disease, antibiotic-associated and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, IBS, constipation, IBD, chemotherapy-associated diarrhea, respiratory tract infection, ventilator-associated pneumonia, NAFLD, liver encephalopathy, periodontitis, depression, vaginosis, urinary tract infections, pancreatitis, incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, hospital infection and stay in ICU, mortality of post-trauma patients, necrotising enterocolitis in premature infants. Only for antibiotic- and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, and respiratory tract infections the effects of probiotics are considered "evidence-based." Concerning other fields, meta-analyses lacks to define type and biologic effect of probiotic strains, as well as the outcome in a disease state. Therefore, the results presented should be a stimulus for further studies which will provide clinical recommendations.
Keyphrases
- clostridium difficile
- meta analyses
- respiratory tract
- systematic review
- clinical practice
- urinary tract infection
- trauma patients
- randomized controlled trial
- irritable bowel syndrome
- risk factors
- rheumatoid arthritis
- intensive care unit
- escherichia coli
- healthcare
- depressive symptoms
- cardiovascular events
- early onset
- coronary artery disease
- emergency department
- radiation therapy
- physical activity
- mechanical ventilation
- sleep quality
- cardiovascular disease
- acute respiratory distress syndrome
- low birth weight
- bacillus subtilis
- adverse drug
- preterm infants
- acute care
- rectal cancer
- lactic acid