Table 3 Main clinical trials performed involving children on the effects of probiotics on neurologic diseases

Parracho et al. [108]

Randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study in children with ASD 3–16 years old treated with L. plantarum WCFS1 vs placebo for 3 weeks

Improvement of disruptive antisocial behaviours, anxiety and communication problems in probiotic arm

Kaluzna-Czaplinska et al. [109]

Cohort study of children with ASD 4–10 years old treated with L. acidophilus strain Rosell-11 for 2 months

Improvement in their ability to concentrate and fulfil orders, with no impact on behavioural responses to other people’s emotions or eye contact

Partty et al. [110]

Randomized trial on infants followed for 13 years, giving L. rhamnosus GG vs placebo for the first 6 months of life

At the age of 13 years, 6 out of 35 (17.1 %) children in the placebo group were diagnosed with ASD or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, but none in the probiotic group were

Romeo et al. [111]

Randomized trial in preterm infants treated with L. reuteri ATCC 55730 or L. rhamnosus ATCC 53103 or no supplementation for 6 weeks

Higher incidence of suboptimal neurological scores in the control group than in both the probiotic groups at 1 year of age