title: Effects of probiotics on child growth: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Child undernutrition has short and long term consequence for both individuals and society. Previous studies show probiotics may promote child growth and have an impact on under-nutrition.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of the literature was carried out on three electronic databases to assess evidence. The outcome measured was change in weight or height. A narrative analysis was conducted due to heterogeneity of included studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve studies were included in the review of which ten were randomised controlled trials. A total of 2757 children were included, with 1598 from developing countries. The studies varied in type and quantity of probiotics given, duration of interventions, characteristics of participants, setting and units of outcome measures. Overall, five studies found a positive effect of probiotics on child growth. All five were conducted in developing countries with four studies conducted in mostly under-nourished children and one in well-nourished children. No significant effect on growth was found in the seven studies that were conducted in developed countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The limited evidence suggests that probiotics have the potential to improve child growth in developing countries and in under-nourished children. More research is needed to explore this further.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Nutrition Group, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK. joy.onubi@abdn.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ojochenemi J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Onubi
authors.affiliation: Public Health Nutrition Group, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK. a.poobalan@abdn.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Amudha S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Poobalan
authors.affiliation: Public Health Nutrition Group, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK. bdineen@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dineen
authors.affiliation: Public Health Nutrition Group, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK. debbi.marais@abdn.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Debbi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marais
authors.affiliation: Public Health Nutrition Group, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK. g.mcneill@abdn.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McNeill
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009752:Nutritional Status; D019936:Probiotics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015430:Weight Gain
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