Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42209809›Full record

SynthesisEuropean journal of pediatrics2026

Effect of probiotics on allergic rhinitis in children; A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aida Bakhshi, Farid Poursadegh, Moeen Salari, Elham Shaarbaf Eidgahi, Safieh Shazdehahmadi, Mahmoud Mahmoudi, Arezoo Faridzadeh

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Aida BakhshiClinical Research Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Farid PoursadeghLung Diseases Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Moeen SalariDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Birjand, Iran.
Elham Shaarbaf EidgahiDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Safieh ShazdehahmadiLung Diseases Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Mahmoud MahmoudiDepartment of Immunology and Allergy, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Mahmoudim@mums.ac.ir.
Arezoo FaridzadehDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Faridzadeha2@mums.ac.ir.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9094-6999

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAllergic rhinitis (AR) is a prevalent chronic inflammatory disorder in children, often undiagnosed and associated with reduced quality of life and risk of comorbidities such as asthma. Probiotics have been found to be potential modulators of immune responses in allergic conditions. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of probiotics compared with placebo in the management of pediatric AR.

methodsSearches were conducted in accordance with a pre-registered protocol using MEDLINE (PubMed), the Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase through April 8, 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of children aged < 18 years that compared probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics with a placebo were considered for inclusion. Outcomes of interest included clinical and laboratory parameters. Random-effects models with Hedges' g were used; heterogeneity was assessed via I

resultsFourteen RCTs involving 1,739 children were included. Meta-analysis revealed a significant reduction in nasal symptom scores (SMD = -1.40; 95% CI: -2.26 to -0.54; I

conclusionProbiotics were associated with improvements in nasal and ocular symptoms and quality of life in children with AR; however, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to substantial heterogeneity across studies. Probiotics may have a potential role as an adjunctive therapy, but further high-quality, standardized trials are needed. PROSPERO registration code: CRD420250654461 on 24 February 2025. What is Known • Probiotics have been investigated as adjunctive therapy for pediatric allergic rhinitis because of their potential immunomodulatory effects. • Previous studies and meta-analyses have reported inconsistent findings regarding the clinical and immunological effects of probiotics in allergic rhinitis. What is New •This meta-analysis demonstrated significant improvements in nasal symptoms, ocular symptoms, and quality of life in children with allergic rhinitis receiving probiotics versus placebo. • Probiotic supplementation showed no consistent beneficial effects on immunological markers, while substantial heterogeneity remained across studies.

Indexed as

ProbioticsRhinitis, AllergicChildHumansQuality of LifeRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeAllergic rhinitisMeta-analysisPediatricProbioticsSystematic review

Identifiers

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.