Minerva Pediatr (Torino). 2022 Oct 31. doi: 10.23736/S2724-5276.22.07031-8.Online ahead of print.

Vanessa N Dargenio ¹, Stefania Castellaneta ¹, Serena Panico ¹, Maria E Papagni ¹, Costantino Dargenio ¹, Federico Schettini ², Ruggiero Francavilla ³, Fernanda Cristofori ¹

Author information

¹Section of Pediatrics, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Giovanni XXIII Children's Hospital, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.

²Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.

³Section of Pediatrics, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Giovanni XXIII Children's Hospital, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy - rfrancavilla@gmail.com.

Abstract

During the past decades, scientists have discovered the intimate role of the gut microbiome in human health, and since then, several papers have been published to investigate if the use of biotics (probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics) may have a beneficial impact on human health both in treatment and prevention. We now ask ourselves whether we have reached the finish line or just a new starting point, as the evidence supporting the use of biotics in several still needs a lot of work. Many questions remain unanswered today because the evidence differs depending on the indication, used strain, and amount and duration of administration. Herein we will summarize the evidence on probiotics in some gastrointestinal diseases such as infantile colic, functional abdominal pain disorders, celiac disease, acute gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and Helicobacter Pylori infection.