We are becoming increasingly aware of the significant increase in asthma sufferers over the past 50 years. A total of 300 million people across the world are now estimated to have asthma, which increases by 50% every 10 years.
As a result of such dramatic rise in asthma sufferers, we are interested to report about a recent systematic review evaluating the use of probiotic supplementation during pregnancy or infancy with childhood asthma and wheeze.
To explain a little about the role of bacteria in immune health, commensal gut bacteria helps to develop the immune system of infants, therefore a disruption in the bacteria may lead to immune disorders in later life. It is also becoming increasingly recognised that factors such as C-section delivery, a lack of breastfeeding and the use of antibiotics, can all contribute to an increased risk of asthma.
Probiotics for asthma
Rising asthma rates in children have sparked increased research into potential prevention and management strategies, including the role of probiotics. Recent studies suggest that gut microbiota composition may influence immune system development, leading to interest in probiotics as a potential intervention for asthma. A 2019 meta-analysis reviewing 19 clinical trials involving over 5,000 children found mixed results3: while some studies suggested that probiotics - particularly Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 - might reduce wheezing in atopic infants, overall, probiotic supplementation during pregnancy or infancy did not significantly lower asthma risk. Similarly, a 2022 study in Saudi Arabia highlighted gaps in healthcare professionals' understanding of the microbiome’s role in asthma6. More research is needed to determine strain-specific effects and the potential therapeutic benefits of probiotics in asthma management4,8.
A systematic review of a number of randomised controlled trials was carried out by two reviewers. These trials aimed to evaluate the benefits of mothers taking probiotic supplements during pregnancy, or given to infants in the first year of their life, with asthma as a primary outcome, and wheeze & lower respiratory tract infection as the secondary outcome. 20 trials were assessed, involving a total of 4866 children. One trial exclusively studied prenatal maternal supplementation, 10 trials evaluated postnatal infant supplementation and nine assessed a combination of prenatal and postnatal supplementation. The length of time of the probiotic supplementation varied between the trials, from 1 month to 25 months. A variety of probiotic strains were tested individually and in combination, which included the Bifidobacterium species (including B. bifidum, B. longum, two strains of B. breve and four strains of B. lactis) and 6 Lactobacillus species (L. acidophilus, L casei, L. lactis, L. reuteri, 2 strains of L. paracasei and 3 strains of L. rhamnosus). Six trials involved a combination of a number of probiotic strains, and five looked at using a combination of probiotics and prebiotics (see Probiotics Learning Lab).
The evidence determined that the use of probiotics can confer a health benefit to the host when administered in adequate quantities. According to one recent meta-analysis of 14 randomised controlled trials, probiotic supplements taken during pregnancy were shown to reduce the incidence of atopic dermatitis (eczema) by 21%. Although there is less evidence for the use of probiotics in the prevention of asthma & wheezing, animal studies have indicated that the use of probiotics during pregnancy can help to reduce airway inflammation.
Supplementing with probiotics during pregnancy can reduce the risk of eczema
Although perinatal probiotic supplementation has been shown to prevent atopic dermatitis, more research is required, as well as more long term clinical trials, in order to fully define the role probiotics play in the prevention of asthma. This wide scale review of the many trials presents some very positive findings, and further highlights the potential health benefits of specific bacteria strains (see Probiotics Learning Lab). We would be really interested to see more research, particularly involving more human trials in the use of probiotic supplementation for the prevention of asthma in children. Despite the increasing prevalence of asthma in children as a major allergic disease, there are comparatively few trials in this area, and certainly scope for more research. It would also be beneficial for the trials to have a long term follow-up as asthma diagnosis can be challenging in children under 6 years of age. Long-term trials can however carry an increased risk of lower compliance.
If you are interested in this topic, we recently wrote about another interesting study which demonstrated that probiotic supplements can reach breast milk - you can read more about this over in the Probiotics Learning Lab. We also recently reported that probiotics given to premature babies have been found to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal problems.
