They are the tiny living organisms, or the good bacteria that exist in many of the foods kids eat every day. These products are specifically being marketed to children claiming to do everything including calm colic and improve intestinal problems.
From a scientific standpoint, the theory behind probiotics is that live microorganisms, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, when consumed in the correct amounts, can help the body fight off aliments. Often listed on the package exponentially in CFUs (colony forming units), is the amount of live bacteria the food contains. So do these products really offer a health benefit? As of now, the studies are not conclusive. Experts disagree as to how many live bacteria actually survive in the products by the time they are consumed.
So how do mom and dad decide what products if any will help boost their child’s health? A good rule to follow is not to choose foods based solely on probiotics, but look for foods that are good healthy options on their own. Yogurt and aged cheeses for instance are good examples. These foods are heavy in nutrients like calcium, protein, and vitamin D which makes them smart food choices. With that in mind, the possible added benefit from the live cultures in these foods may help kids’ digestive tracts.
The lack of scientific research on probiotics makes definite health benefits inconclusive. There is just not enough evidence yet to know if these products live up to the following lofty claims.
Gets Rid of Colic
- One study published in Pediatrics in 2007 suggested that infants who were given BioGaia probiotic drops cried for only 51 minutes a day compared to the infants give OTC anti-gas drops who cried 145 minutes a day.
Cures Diarrhea
- A similar study published in Pediatrics looked at a group of children with diarrhea. The findings revealed that the probiotic group Lactobacillus was found to be a safe and effective treatment for diarrhea, reducing the symptoms by one day and making it less severe. These types of probiotics can be found in OTC supplements like Culturelle for Kids and Florastor Kid which come in packet size servings that can be mixed into kids’ food or drinks.
Improves Intestinal Problems
- In children who have irritable bowel syndrome, or an inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, several studies have shown that the probiotic strains found in supplements Align and VSL#3 may reduce the severity of children’s abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, gas and diarrhea. A study done in Italy found that constipated babies who were given probiotics had more frequent bowel movements after two weeks than babies who did not receive probiotics.
Parents should look for the Live & Active Cultures Seal which was developed by the National Yogurt Association to help identify a product that can in theory impart the most health benefits. The studies so far look promising: probiotics may help treat many common childhood aliments such as diarrhea and colic. If mom or dad are worried about a specific health issue, talk to the pediatrician about probiotics and get their input on the issue.
References:
HealthyChildren.Org, accessed 9/15/10
Lisa Milordo - My name is Lisa Milordo and I have been a freelance writer for over ten years. I started out writing copy and headlines for a large direct ...
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