Using Probiotics and Prebiotics in Pediatric Medicine

Dr. Michael Cabana
 

Research in the use of probiotics and prebiotics has great potential to create many new therapies to improve the health of children. However, there are unique challenges in studying the effectiveness of probiotics and prebiotics in pediatric populations. Children differ from adults based on the 5 "D"s (Development, Dependency, Differential Epidemiology, Demographics and "Dollars"). This presentation will highlight issues in conducting research on children in the context of probiotic and prebiotic studies. Understanding these issues places the limitations of pediatric research in context and increases awareness of other important questions to answer in terms of pediatric therapies.