A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 4 studies reporting an allergic disease outcome for 1218 infants. Prebiotics are nondigestible food components that help by selectively stimulating the growth or activity of 'healthy' bacteria in the colon. No significant difference in infant asthma was found between prebiotics and no prebiotics (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.19; 2 studies, n=226). A reduction in eczema was shown between prebiotics and no prebiotics (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.97; 4 studies, n=1218; number needed to treat to benefit (NNT) 25, 95% CI 14 to > 100).
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (more than 20% loss to follow up) and by inconsistency (heterogeneity in results in different populations).
Primary/Secondary Keywords