Across 3 studies, all reported beneficial effects of Lactobacillus reuteri UALre-16 on reducing hospitalization duration, with effect sizes ranging from small to large. Two of 3 studies reached statistical significance. Evidence is available for children with acute gastroenteritis (small effect: MD -0.54 days) and preterm neonates (large effect: -10.77 days), but no consistent dose or form was reported.
Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed).
L. reuteri use was also associated with a reduced duration of hospitalization (three RCTs, n = 284, MD -0.54 days, 95% CI [-1.09, 0.0]).
Compared with the placebo group, patients in the L. reuteri group had a shorter duration of hospitalization (P = 0.048).
Meta-analysis of RCTs estimated that the duration of hospitalization (-10.77 days; 95% CI, -13.67 to -7.86; 3 RCTs) was reduced in the L reuteri group.