Probiotics in Childhood

Probiotics can be an easy addition to their daily health routine to give their gut flora a boost. Read on to find out everything you need to know about choosing the best probiotic for children:

• Are probiotics good for kids?
• The benefits of probiotics in childhood
• Which are the best probiotics for your child?
• Probiotics for childhood constipation
• Probiotics for a child on antibiotics
• Probiotics for a child's immune health
• Probiotics for asthmatic children
• Probiotics for eczema and allergies in children
• Probiotics for IBS in childhood
• Probiotics for the autistic child
• Are probiotics safe for children?
• Children's Probiotics checklist

​Are probiotics good for kids?

If your children are generally fit and healthy, you might wonder why they need probiotics. However, if you read the second article in our ‘Early life microbiome' series, ‘Child Microbiome: Dr Kate's Guide’, you can see that the balance of the gut microbiome is very important. Childhood years come with factors such as school, stress, high-sugar & low-fibre diet, medications/antibiotics, and busy lifestyles which can all impact your child’s microbiome composition and reduce levels of friendly bacteria. There are many ways to support gut health, and you can read more about this in our article Gut Health, All You Need to Know. But giving your children probiotics, also known as live cultures or good/friendly bacteria, are an easy way to ensure they have extra support they may need in the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Benefits of probiotics in childhood

Let’s take a brief look at some key areas in which the gut microbiome plays a part in your child's health:

Digestion and energy

Your child is constantly growing! As such it’s vital they are digesting their food and absorbing the nutrients well. Our microbiome provides digestive enzymes to help kids to break down their food¹. Plus, they support a healthy gut environment ensuring good nutrient absorption. Many microbes in our gut can also produce essential vitamins²!

Supporting immune health

Schools and nurseries are notorious hangouts for harmful bugs, where they can quickly spread. With 70% of our immune system being located in the gut, the good news is that you can support your child’s immunity with probiotics. Our gut microbes essentially act as teachers, helping the immune system respond to threats appropriately. Probiotics become part of our friendly bacteria barrier which protects our gut cells and immune system.

Healthcare professionals can find out more about the complex relationship between probiotics and the immune system in this article on our sister site, Probiotic Professionals: Probiotics for Immunity.

Mood and wellbeing

Probiotics may be able to help by modulating our mood via the connection of our brain and microbiome known as the gut-brain axis. It’s estimated that 90% of the happy hormone serotonin, is produced in the gut. The neurotransmitter GABA is also important for helping us to ‘switch off’ and sleep and GABA can be produced by friendly bacteria in the gut such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli⁴. Read more about the Gut-Brain Axis and Probiotics.

Skin health

Unfortunately, children often suffer from skin problems like eczema and acne, currently 1 in 5 children in the UK have eczema⁴. Probiotics may be able to improve skin health by supporting a healthy gut lining, increasing the levels of good bacteria in the gut, and calming down inflammation⁵. For more information, take a look at Probiotics for Acne and Skin Health.

Healthcare professionals can find out more about eczema and the latest probiotic research in the article ‘Do probiotics help with eczema?’, on Probiotic Professionals.

Which are the best probiotics for your child?

There are a few considerations to take into account, but a good starting point is to select a high-quality supplement containing strains to support your child’s individual needs.

Format should be considered too, as you want a product that will be easily slotted into your kids’ health regime. We know this can be a challenge, especially for some fussier kids. But fear not, there are lots of ways kids can take their probiotic supplement– read our fun article for some inspiration: How to Get Kids to Take Probiotics. Just remember - if you’re adding a probiotic to any type of food or drink, make sure it’s not too hot or acidic or you’ll risk killing those friendly little microbes. Thankfully, there are also lots of different types of supplement available, so it's easy to find the one that suits your child best:

Probiotic drops

That’s right, you can give your child an easy liquid probiotic! Simply drop the recommended number of drops per day right into your child’s mouth, or mix it with food or drink. This children’s probiotic is a particularly useful format for very young children.

Optibac Baby Drops contains an extensively researched strain of probiotic bacteria called Bifidobacterium breve M-16V® for gut and immune health in babies. This probiotic supplement comes in an easy to use liquid drops format, and is vegan, gluten and dairy-free.

Powder probiotics

Many probiotics come in a powder or sachet format. This can be particularly useful as children often don’t like to swallow capsules. The powder can be easily hidden in their favourite foods or drinks, e.g. in their breakfast cereal or yoghurt.

Optibac Babies & Children powder contains three strains, Bifidobacterium breve M-16V^®, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001, which have been extensively researched for gut and immune health in children. This probiotic powder comes in handy sachets – the powder can be sprinkled onto any cool, non-acidic breakfast food.

Probiotic gummies

Older children may prefer to take their probiotics as a chewy, naturally flavoured ‘gummy’ - be sure to choose well-researched, high-quality options with no artificial additives.

Optibac Kids Gummies are gluten-free, vegan, free from artificial additives and have no added sugar. They come in a delicious strawberry flavour, and are made using natural fruit juices. This delicious children’s probiotic contains the highly-researched strain of friendly bacteria, Bacillus coagulans Unique-IS2, which has been researched in hundreds of children and shown to support the immune system and digestion..

Probiotic foods for kids

Some fermented foods naturally contain good bacteria. This can be a good way to boost the diversity in your child’s microbiome. The only downside is many of these foods, such as kefir, kimchee and sauerkraut, have strong tastes and may not be very child-friendly (even the most adventurous eater might turn their nose up at these!). If you're interested, then take a look at some of our favourite fermented foods.

Probiotic yoghurt for kids

Probiotic yoghurts from the supermarkets can be a popular choice with kids, but some are healthier than others! Many yoghurts and yoghurt drinks are very high in sugar, or contain artificial sweeteners which may have negative effects on the gut microbiome²⁴. Some yoghurts may not even contain any live cultures at all! 

Probiotic supplements for kids

When chossing a probiotic for children under 12, it is best to look for supplements containing probiotic strains that have been specifically researched in this age group, i.e., infants, babies and children. Although it’s typically reported that the microbiome settles at around 3 years of age, some research disputes this. One study showed that a child’s (aged 7-12) microbiome was still different from an adult’s⁶ in terms of composition and the functional qualities.

Let’s look at some children’s probiotics, and also prebiotics which have been researched in babies and children.

Probiotics for childhood constipation

There are many reasons why a child may suffer from regularity issues, such as a low-fibre and/or high-sugar diet, dehydration, medications, and stress/anxiety. The NHS states 3 or fewer bowel movements a week may mean your child has constipation⁷. Rather than laxatives, trying probiotics for kids' constipation can be a good natural option that may help in numerous ways, including aiding the movement of the colon, known as peristalsis.

One of the most researched probiotic strains for occasional constipation is Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12^®, which has also been researched in children⁸. In clinical trials, individuals who took B. lactis BB-12^® had significantly more bowel movements per week⁹ without causing loose stools¹⁰. The strain Bacillus coagulans Unique-IS2 has also been shown to reduce occasional constipation and straining in children²⁵.

Another strain, Bifidobacterium breve M-16V®, has been shown to improve stool consistency in young children²⁸. In one clinical trial, children who took B. breve M-16V® for 12 weeks had a softer stool consistency compared to the control group. If after a few days your child has still not had a bowel movement or they often suffer from regularity issues, then consult with your child’s doctor.

Best probiotics for a child on antibiotics

Unfortunately, taking antibiotics can wipe out lots of friendly bacteria as well as bad bacteria, this can lead to a microbial imbalance.¹¹ If your child needs to take antibiotics and is already taking a daily probiotic supplement, you can continue giving them this but just leave a two-hour gap between the antibiotic and probiotic.

If they are not already taking a probiotic supplement, or if it’s more convenient, then alongside the medication you could give them a specific probiotic designed to be taken with antibiotics. There is a unique combination of extensively researched probiotic strains, Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell 52 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell 11, which have been trialled alongside antibiotics and shown to survive to reach the gut alive ¹².

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG® is a very well-known probiotic strain which has been trialled for antibiotic associated diarrhoea (ADD). In one clinical trial, children who took L. rhamnosus GG® had significantly increased stool consistency and reduced stool frequency during antibiotic therapy by the 10^th day compared to the control group²⁹.

For more information on this topic, you can read Probiotics with Antibiotics 

Probiotics for a child's immune health

The immune system is heavily challenged in school environments so needs all the support it can get! A combination of three probiotic strains have been shown to reduce the risk of childhood illnesses as well as the time taken off school¹³. L. acidophilus Rosell 52, Bifidobacterium infantis Rosell 33 and Bifidobacterium bifidum Rosell 71 were the three strains used in this gold-standard study of 135 children. Also, the strain Bacillus coagulans Unique-IS2 has shown its ability to increase Natural Killer (NK) cells²⁷. NK cells are an important component of our immunity as they are involved in fighting viral infections, and killing damaged cells.

Another strain, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG®, has been shown to reduce the risk and duration of upper respiratory infections in children³⁰. In one study of 281 children, the length of time the children suffered with runny noses and sore throats was significantly shorter in those taking L. rhamnosus GG® for 3 months. These highly researched strains are great options for kids and you can find out more about probiotics for immune health in this article on the Probiotics Learning Lab: Probiotics for Your Family’s Immunity

Healthcare professionals can find more information on the research using the Rosell strains here, on Probiotic Professionals: Research on three Rosell probiotic strains.

Probiotics for asthmatic children

It’s estimated that 1 in 11 children suffer with asthma¹⁴. According to a large scale 2022 study, one of the most important determinants of the developing microbiota in both the airway and gut is having siblings in the home with a close age gap³⁴. Some probiotics have been researched in asthmatics and shown to have beneficial effects, but research into the gut-lung axis is still in its infancy.

In addition to their benefits for immune health (see previous section), L. acidophilus Rosell 52, B. infantis Rosell 33 and B. bifidum Rosell 71 were shown in a clinical trial with 78 children to reduce wheezing-like symptoms. Symptoms were reduced after 3 months and disappeared after 6 months. This result was still maintained at 9 months¹⁵. Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis^® has also been shown to significantly reduce bronchial airway inflammation in 43 asthmatic children¹⁶. Finally, there is evidence for Bifidobacterium breve M-16V^® in reducing the frequency of wheezing and noisy breathing in infants¹⁷. You can find more information here: Probiotic Potential for Asthma.

Probiotics for eczema and allergies in childhood

Children with allergies often exhibit a more inflammatory profile, dysbiosis and leaky gut^18,19 and unfortunately, allergies and eczema often go hand in hand. The gut-skin axis is starting to be explored and we can see that conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis are linked to gut health.  Probiotics can help to support gut health and modulate immune function to alleviate these issues.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG^® has been shown to increase antibodies (our immune system's 'frontline soldiers') in saliva, thus potentially improving immune responses in those with hay fever²⁰. A similar gold standard study was conducted over the birch pollen season using a combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM^® and Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04^®. The strains were given to 47 children with hay fever. Generally, fewer children reported runny and stuffy noses, plus white blood cells associated with allergy were reduced in the probiotic group²¹. 

Two other probiotics strains, Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Bifidobacterium breve M-16V®, have also been shown to be helpful for children with eczema and allergies. In a long-term study of over 400 children, L. rhamnosus HN001 was associated with significantly lower cumulative prevalence of eczema and sensitization^31,32. The clinical trial found that this particular strain can protect against the development of eczema and atopic sensitisation until at least age 11 years. Finally, there is evidence for B. breve M-16V® reducing acute allergic skin reactions in infants³³. You can read more about this subject here: Could probiotics help with allergies?

Probiotics for IBS in childhood

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder and is said to now affect 12% of the total global population²⁶, with its prevalence in children also increasing. Much of the research into probiotics for IBS has focussed on the adult population, however, one particular strain shows excellent results in children specifically. 141 children were split into 2 groups and given either Bacillus coagulans Unique-IS2 or placebo for 8 weeks. The children were assessed for a variety of IBS symptoms, including abdominal discomfort, bloating and passage of gas. Significant improvement was seen across all symptoms in the probiotic group, as compared with those in the placebo group²⁵. 

Probiotics for the autistic child

Kids with autism have a different microbial composition to non-autistic kids. They have higher levels of some harmful bacteria, lower levels of short-chain fatty acids and Bifidobacteria, which is usually naturally present in the healthy infant gut²². Gut issues such as constipation, diarrhoea and abdominal pain are very common in autistic children and can cause additional distress.

Research on specific probiotic strains is lacking for autism with inconsistent results. However, there is some promising research using prebiotics. One study using prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) found a significant improvement in anti-social behaviour²³. You could also consider a probiotic to support digestive symptoms. Saccharomyces boulardii is a well-known probiotic that has been extensively researched for loose stools in hundreds of children, making it a nice, natural option to try. Persistent symptoms should always be discussed with your child’s doctor.

Healthcare professionals can read more about probiotics and autism on Probiotic Professionals.

Are probiotics safe for children?

If you’ve read this far, you’ll now be well-informed and hopefully convinced about the potential benefits of giving probiotic supplements to your children. It's always best to opt for probiotic bacteria that have been extensively researched on infants and kids.

The only time you'd need to exercise caution when giving your child a probiotic is if they have a serious illness and/or a compromised immune system. In this case, you should always speak to your child's doctor before giving any natural supplements. For more information read the following articles: 

Are probiotics safe?

When should I NOT take probiotics?

I’m severely immunosuppressed: why can’t I take live cultures?

Children's Probiotics checklist

• A child’s microbiome is really important for their overall health and wellbeing
• Friendly bacteria carry out essential roles for our kids, e.g. digestion and immune support
• Adult probiotics may not always be suitable for children - find strains that have good research in kids
• Choose a probiotic for children that contain strains that have been researched for your child’s individual health needs
• If your child is taking antibiotics, consider specific probiotic strains researched alongside antibiotics or give their usual supplement 2 hours away from the medication
• You have plenty of options – children’s probiotics come in different formats, including: in drops/liquid, powder/sachet, or capsule, and can be added to foods like yoghurt; so many options for any fussy mouths!
• Don’t forget diet – even if you’re giving them a probiotic supplement, it’s always good to keep sugar to a minimum, and include gut-supporting high fibre and fermented foods

This article forms part 5 in our educational resource, ‘Early life microbiome series’, where we take you on a journey through the development and support of the microbiome from conception through to young adulthood. The other articles in this series are:

1. All About The Microbiome
2. Child Microbiome: Dr Kate's Guide - this explores the factors affecting the microbiome in childhood
3. Probiotics for Pregnancy
4. Baby Probiotics
5. Probiotics for Kids
6. Which Probiotics are Best for Teenagers?

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