Probiotics no help

A Cochrane Collaboration review, carried out by Dr Robert Boyle of Imperial College London, of 12 studies involving 781 children, concluded that there is no evidence that probiotics in supplement form reduce the symptoms of eczema or change its severity.

The 12 studies were conducted between 2003 and 2008 and the children ranged in age from a month to 13 years old, but most of them were under 18 months old and appeared to have an allergy to cow's milk.

However, Dr Boyle did suggest that new probiotics, yet to be studied, might have an effect and there is evidence emerging that probiotics may be useful for preventing eczema when taken during pregnancy or in the first weeks of life.

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