title: Current level of consensus on probiotic science--report of an expert meeting--London, 23 November 2009.
abstract: The present paper summarizes the consensus views of a group of 9 European clinicians and scientists on the current state of scientific knowledge on probiotics, covering those areas where there is substantial evidence for beneficial effects and those where the evidence base is poor or inconsistent. There was general agreement that probiotic effects were species and often strain specific. The experts agreed that some probiotics were effective in reducing the incidence and duration of rotavirus diarrhoea in infants, antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in adults and, for certain probiotics, Clostridium difficile infections. Some probiotics are associated with symptomatic improvements in irritable bowel syndrome and alleviation of digestive discomfort. Probiotics can reduce the frequency and severity of necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants and have been shown to regulate intestinal immunity. Several other clinical effects of probiotics, including their role in inflammatory bowel disease, atopic dermatitis, respiratory or genito-urinary infections or H.pylori adjuvant treatment were thought promising but inconsistent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, UK. i.rowland@reading.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Capurso
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Delzenne
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Goulet
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guarner
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marteau
authors.forename: Rémy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome