Probiotics: More Hype than Help

Lactobacillus GG may have immune suppressive effects:

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are an essential component of the antimicrobial repertoire and represent an effective means by which neutrophils capture, contain, and kill microorganisms.

Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus Inhibits the Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24465012

Probiotics: Late Complications

• LGG administered to mothers prior to delivery and then to the infants shortly after delivery: decreased atopic dermatitis in the group receiving LGG, but more of allergic rhinitis and asthma in the Lactobacillus GG group at 7 years.

• At 2 years of age, LGG didn’t result in differences in atopic dermatitis, but there was a statistically significant increase in wheezing bronchitis (26% vs. 9%) in the LGG-treated group.

• At the age of 12 months, the rate of sensitization to common allergens was significantly higher in the probiotic group.

a. Kalliomaki M.et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2007 Apr.;119(4):1019-21. b. Kopp MV, et al Pediatrics. 2008 Apr.;121(4):e850-6
c. Taylor AL, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007;119(1):184-91.

https://www.kaleidahealth.org/childrens/grandrounds/pdfs/Grand_Rounds_032009.pdf

Maternal Supplementation with LGG Reduces Vaccine-Specific Immune Responses in Infants

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24324465