The role of probiotics and prebiotics in the prevention of infections in child day-care centres.
Infants and children attending day-care centres demonstrate a notably higher risk of gastrointestinal as well as of respiratory tract infections. The present short review evaluates various well-controlled clinical trials analysing the effect of probiotics and prebiotics in the prevention of such infections. In most of the 12 studies identified, probiotic supplementation was found to be a safe and effective therapeutic tool in preventing gastrointestinal and respiratory infection in this population.
Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University, P.O. Box 151, 84151 Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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Weizman
D002656:Child Day Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D056692:Prebiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*
D056692:Prebiotics
children; day-care centres; infection; prebiotics; probiotics