Probiotics in infant healthcare: Promising benefits and underlying concerns

Probiotics, viable microorganisms with demonstrated health benefits, are generally recognized as a safe and effective option to facilitate host wellbeing. At present, probiotics are attracting considerable interest and gaining acceptance in both the food industry and clinical practice for improving health outcomes, with current applications primarily target adult populations. However, systematic analyses integrating the varied therapeutic effects of probiotics as well as the underlying challenges and safety concerns in infant subjects remain scarce. This review highlights the existing evidence regarding the potential application of probiotics as an innovative approach for various infantile conditions. Moreover, we comprehensively summarize the safety issues and limitations associated with the usage of probiotic strategy and identify several corresponding solutions to promote their better use. Our study provides updated evidence for probiotic supplement in infant population, highlighting key considerations for developing safer and more effective probiotic products in the future.