RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the effect of probiotic supplementation during pregnancy and infancy in preventing atopic dermatitis in children. METHODS: RevMan5.3 was used to perform a Meta analysis of randomized controlled trials on the effect of probiotic supplementation during pregnancy and infancy in preventing atopic dermatitis in children published between January 2008 and May 2018 across the world. A subgroup analysis was conducted according to the type of probiotics for intervention, follow-up time, time of probiotic supplementation, and study areas. RESULTS: A total of 22 articles were selected, with 3 280 cases in the intervention group and 3 281 cases in the control group. The results of pooled effect size showed that probiotic supplementation during pregnancy and/or infancy significantly reduced the incidence rate of atopic dermatitis (RR=0.81, 95%CI: 0.70-0.93, P<0.05). According to the subgroup analysis, the intervention with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium had a significant effect (RR=0.68, 95%CI: 0.52-0.90, P<0.05); probiotic supplementation during both pregnancy and infancy also had a significant effect (RR=0.77, 95%CI: 0.66-0.90, P<0.05); probiotic supplementation during pregnancy and/or infancy had a better effect in preventing atopic dermatitis in children aged ≤2 years than in those aged >2 years (RR=0.74, 95%CI: 0.61-0.90, P<0.05); probiotic supplementation had a significant effect in Australia (RR=0.83, 95%CI: 0.73-0.96, P<0.05) and Europe/the United States (RR=0.74, 95%CI: 0.61-0.91, P<0.05). Heterogeneity was mainly due to follow-up time (I2=62.7%) and time of probiotic supplementation (I2=53.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Probiotic supplementation during pregnancy and infancy helps to prevent atopic dermatitis in children, and mixed Lactobacillus-Bifidobacterium intervention has a better effect.