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Cited by 37Breastfeeding Practices and InfluencesProbiotics and Fermented FoodsInfant Nutrition and Health

Probiotics and human lactational mastitis: A scoping review

Barker, Melissa, Adelson, Pamela, Peters, Micah D J, Steen, Mary·2020·Women and Birth
DOI 10.1016/j.wombi.2020.01.001
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Abstract

Problem Lactational mastitis is a common condition amongst breastfeeding women. It is associated with decreased breastfeeding rates and often treated with antibiotics.Background The anti-inflammatory effects of probiotics have been identified as a potential treatment or prevention strategy for lactational mastitis leading to increased commercial and public interest. Despite the marketing of probiotics to women, evidence is still emerging as to its efficacy.Aim/methods This scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) to identify and examine the evidence around probiotic consumption and lactational mastitis. The review addressed the question; what is the evidence regarding probiotic consumption and human lactational mastitis? Studies were critically appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for randomised control trials (RCTs).Findings Five RCTs met the inclusion criteria; three concerned probiotic consumption for the treatment of mastitis, two for the prevention of mastitis. All reported a lower incidence of mastitis in the probiotic groups.Discussion Although potentially promising results were reported across all studies there were significant methodological limitations concerning; appropriately described baseline characteristics, study hypotheses, lack of power calculations, definitional issues, and potential conflicts of interest.Conclusion Probiotics may have utility for the treatment or prevention of lactational mastitis. However only a few studies with significant limitations have been published to date. Well designed and conducted studies are needed before evidence-based recommendations can be made for use of probiotics in the treatment or prevention of lactational mastitis.

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  • Scoping reviews are particularly useful where evidence is extensive and widely dispersed, or emerging and not yet amenable to questions of effectiveness.

    “Scoping reviews are particularly useful where evidence is extensive and widely dispersed (i.e. many different types of evidence), or emerging and not yet amenable to questions of effectiveness [22].”

    From Scoping reviews: reinforcing and advancing the methodology and application (2021) · cites this paper as [22]

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Authors
Barker, M., Adelson, P., Peters, M. D. J., & Steen, M.
Affiliations
University of South Australia (AU)
Corresponding author
Barker, Melissa
ORCID
Venue
Women and Birth
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-11
Volume
33
Issue
6
Pages
e483-e491
ISSN
1871-5192 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.wombi.2020.01.001
OpenAlex
W3010631904
Cited by
36
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 7
FWCI
1.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Women and Birth (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Infant Nutrition and Health
Keywords
probiotics, lactational mastitis, mastitis prevention, mastitis treatment, breastfeeding, anti-inflammatory activity, antibiotic alternatives, probiotic consumption
MeSH terms
Adult, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Breast Feeding, Female, Humans, Lactation, Mastitis, Incidence, Treatment Outcome, Probiotics

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