Clinical outcomes of combined zinc and probiotic therapy in pediatric acute gastroenteritis: a systematic review
Abstract
Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide, and adjunctive therapies such as zinc supplementation and probiotics have been investigated to improve clinical outcomes. This systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of combined zinc supplementation and probiotic therapy in children with AGE compared with standard treatment, zinc alone, probiotics alone, or placebo. The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies reporting clinical outcomes were included. Primary outcomes included diarrhea duration, stool frequency, clinical recovery, resolution of dehydration, and hospitalization, while adverse events were assessed as secondary outcomes. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 and Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tools. Twenty-one studies involving 2,283 children met the inclusion criteria. Combined zinc and probiotic therapy significantly reduced diarrhea duration in 12 studies, stool frequency in 6 studies, and length of hospital stay in 5 studies compared with control interventions. Reported adverse events were infrequent and generally mild, with no serious treatment-related safety concerns. Overall, the available…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 2,283 participants or records.
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