Table 1 Basic characteristics of studies

Healthy children

Firmansyah et al. 2009 [29] Indonesia

n = 393

I: Bifdobacterium longum and Lactobacillus rhamnosusin

Duration:12 months

Weight gain per day and change in length measured between 12 months and 16 months

I: 199

200 ml Milk twice daily + prebiotics and LC-PUFA + Normal Diet

No Follow up

Other unrelated outcomes (motor and behavioural functions were measured at the end of the intervention)

C: 194

C: 200 ml Milk twice daily + Normal Diet with no probiotics

Measurements for weight gain taken after 4 months (16 months of age)

Scalabrin et al. 2009 [33] USA

n = 286

I: Lactobacillus rhamnosus in

Duration: from 14–120 days of age

Weight growth rate between 14 and 120 days of age

I(a): 94

(a): Extensively hydrolyzed formula (EHF)

No follow-up

Length

I(b): 98

(b): Partially hydrolyzed formula (PHF)

Head circumference

C: 94

C: EHF without probiotic

(Length and head circumference measures were obtained at 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 days of age)

All children were exclusively formula fed and on demand

Saavedra et al. 2004 [32] USA

n = 131

I (High supplement (HS)): 1 x 10⁷ Bifdobacterium lactis Bb12 and streptococcus thermophilus CFU/g of standard milk based formula

Mean duration: 210 ± 127 days

Monthly weight and length

I(HS): 44

I (Low supplement(LS)): 1 x 10⁶ Bifdobacterium lactis Bb12 and streptococcus thermophilus CFU/g of standard milk based formula

No follow-up

I(LS): 43

C: Standard milk based formula with no probiotics

C: 44

Intake in each group had to be ≥ 240 ml/day for more than 14 days

Gibson et al. 2009 [30] Australia

n = 142

I: Bifdobacterium lactis 3 · 85 x 108 CFU+

Duration: 7 months

Weight gain per day, recumbent length, head circumference for 7 months, weight gain (g/d) from day 14 to day 119 (period of exclusively feeding the test formulas)

I: 72

LC-PUFA(DHA) and AA in infant formula

No Follow up

C: 70

C: infant formula

Others were BMI, and occurrence of adverse events

(Measurements conducted at approx. 2, 4, 6, 13, 17, 26, 30 weeks of age)

All children were exclusively formula fed but were allowed weaning from 4 months during which at least 500 ml/day of formula to be consumed

Ziegler et al. 2003 [34] USA

n = 122

I(RP + P): Bifdobacterium lactis in reduced protein formula (RP)

Duration: Fed till 112 days of age (approximately 4 months of age)

Weight and length gain per day between 8-56 days, 56–112 days and 8–112 days

I(RP + P): 40

I(RP): Reduced protein formula

I(RP): 40

C: Normal protein formula

No Follow up

C: 42

Puccio et al. 2007 [31] Italy

n = 138

I: 2 x 107 Bifdobacterium longum BL999 + 4 g/litre prebiotic in Infant formula

Duration: 7 months

Mean weight gain, recumbent length, head circumference at 14, 28, 56, 84 and 112 days of age

I: 42

C: Formula without probiotics

No Follow up

C: 55

Huet et al. 2006 [35] France

n = 203

I: Bifdobacterium lactis infant formula

Duration: 90 days

Daily weight gain, daily increase in height from day 0 to day 90

I: 117

C: Infant formula

No follow up

C: 86

Gil-Campos et al. 2011 [27] Spain

N = 137

I: 107 cfu/g Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 + galactooligosaccharides (0.3 g/100 ml) in infant formula

Duration: 5 months

Average daily weight gain between baseline (one month) and 4 months of age

I: 66

C: galactooligosaccharides (0.3 g/100 ml) in infant formula

No follow up

C: 71

Undernourished children

Sazawal et al. 2010 [16] India

n = 624

I: 1.9 x 10⁷ CFU per day of Bifdobacterium lactis HN019 + 2.4 g/day prebiotic in milk powder

Duration: One year

Weight gain at 6 months and 1 year

I: 312

C: milk powder

No follow-up

C: 312

Saran et al. 2002 [13] India

n = 100

I: Lactobacillus acidophilus in curd (beet juice added) 1 x 10⁸ organisms/gm

Duration: 6 months

Body weight, height for 6 months

I: 50

C: Isocaloric supplement (biscuits)

No follow up

Incidence of morbidity with respect to diarrhoea- frequency, severity and duration

C: 50

He et al. 2005 [12] China

n = 402

I: Thermophilus streptococci, Bulgaria lactobacilli and bifidum bacteria in yogurt

Duration: 9 months

Body weight, height at 3,6 and 9 months

I: 201

+ normal diet

No follow up

C: 201

C: Normal Diet

Surono et al. 2011 [28] Indonesia

n = 79

I: 1 mg lyophilized Enterococcus faecium IS-27526 (2.31 x 10⁸ cfu/day) in 125 ml commercial UHT low fat milk

Duration: 90 days

Body weight

I: 39

No follow up

C: 40

C: 1 mg maltodextrin in 125 ml commercial UHT low fat milk