Researchers looked at 17 studies involving over 2,000 newborns to see if adding probiotics or synbiotics (a mix of probiotics and special food for them) to light therapy could help babies with jaundice recover faster. Jaundice happens when babies have too much bilirubin, a yellow substance in their blood. The study found that babies who received probiotics along with light therapy spent less time in the hospital and needed shorter light therapy sessions. However, the results were mixed when looking at bilirubin levels at discharge, suggesting we need more research to fully understand how well this approach works.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether giving newborns probiotics (good bacteria) along with light therapy helps them recover faster from jaundice, a condition where babies’ skin turns yellow due to high bilirubin levels in their blood.
  • Who participated: Over 2,000 newborns from 17 different research studies who had jaundice and were being treated with light therapy. The studies included both full-term and premature babies.
  • Key finding: Babies who received probiotics with light therapy spent about 13 hours less under the lights and left the hospital about 8 hours earlier than babies who only received light therapy. They also had lower yellow-pigment levels in their blood 24 hours after treatment started.
  • What it means for you: If your newborn has jaundice, adding probiotics to standard light therapy may help them recover slightly faster and go home sooner. However, the benefits are modest, and more research is needed to know which types of probiotics work best and for which babies they’re most helpful.

The Research Details

This was a meta-analysis, which means researchers combined data from 17 different high-quality studies to look for patterns. Each of these studies was a randomized controlled trial, where some babies randomly received probiotics plus light therapy, while others received only light therapy. The researchers searched three major medical databases for studies published up until May 2025.

The researchers carefully organized the studies by looking at different groups of babies—comparing full-term babies to premature babies, and different types of probiotics. They used a special tool to check how reliable each study was, making sure they only included trustworthy research.

This approach is powerful because combining many studies gives a clearer picture than looking at just one study alone. It’s like asking multiple doctors the same question instead of just one—you get a more reliable answer.

Understanding whether probiotics can help is important because light therapy, while effective, can cause side effects like dehydration and diarrhea if babies need it for too long. If probiotics can safely shorten treatment time, it could reduce these unwanted effects and help babies go home to their families faster. This research helps doctors decide whether to recommend probiotics as an add-on treatment.

This meta-analysis is strong because it included 17 randomized controlled trials with over 2,000 babies total. The researchers checked each study’s quality carefully. However, the studies varied quite a bit in their methods and results, which makes the overall findings less clear-cut. Some studies were better designed than others, and different probiotics were used in different studies, which makes it harder to say exactly what works best.

What the Results Show

Babies who received probiotics along with light therapy showed clear benefits in two main areas: they needed about 13 hours less of light therapy compared to babies who only received light therapy, and they spent about 8 hours less time in the hospital overall. These differences were statistically significant, meaning they’re unlikely to have happened by chance.

When researchers measured the yellow pigment (bilirubin) in babies’ blood 24 hours after starting treatment, babies in the probiotic group had noticeably lower levels. This suggests the probiotics may help the body get rid of bilirubin more quickly in the first day.

At 72 hours (3 days), the difference in bilirubin levels between the two groups was very small and barely noticeable. Interestingly, when babies were ready to go home, those who received only light therapy actually had slightly lower bilirubin levels than those who received probiotics, which was unexpected and suggests the results aren’t completely consistent.

The researchers also looked at whether results differed for full-term babies versus premature babies, and whether different types of probiotics made a difference. The findings varied depending on which probiotic strain was used and the baby’s age at birth, suggesting that not all probiotics work the same way for all babies. This is an important clue that doctors may need to choose specific probiotics for specific situations.

This research builds on earlier studies suggesting probiotics might help with jaundice. However, previous research was smaller and less organized. This meta-analysis is more comprehensive and careful, but it also reveals that the evidence is more complicated than earlier studies suggested. The finding that discharge bilirubin was lower in the light-therapy-only group contradicts what many doctors expected, showing that more research is definitely needed.

The biggest limitation is that the studies included in this analysis were quite different from each other—they used different probiotics, treated different types of babies, and measured results in different ways. This variation makes it harder to draw firm conclusions. Additionally, some studies were better designed than others, and the quality of evidence overall is moderate rather than excellent. The researchers note that we need larger, better-designed studies that focus on specific probiotic strains and specific groups of babies to get clearer answers.

The Bottom Line

Based on moderate-quality evidence, probiotics combined with light therapy may modestly reduce the time babies need light therapy and hospital stays. However, the benefits are small (about 13 hours of light therapy reduction), and the evidence isn’t strong enough to make a definitive recommendation. Talk with your baby’s doctor about whether probiotics might be appropriate for your situation. The decision should be made on a case-by-case basis, considering your baby’s specific condition and the doctor’s clinical judgment.

Parents of newborns with jaundice should know about this research, as it may be relevant to their baby’s treatment plan. Pediatricians and neonatologists (doctors who specialize in newborn care) should consider this evidence when deciding whether to recommend probiotics as an add-on treatment. This research is less relevant for babies without jaundice or for families looking to prevent jaundice, as the studies only looked at babies who already had the condition.

If probiotics are used, any benefits would likely appear within the first 24-72 hours of treatment, based on when the studies measured bilirubin levels. Most babies with jaundice recover within a few days to a week with light therapy, so any improvement from probiotics would happen on that same timeline. Don’t expect dramatic changes—the improvements are modest.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If your baby is prescribed probiotics along with light therapy, track the daily bilirubin levels (if available from your doctor) and the total hours of light therapy needed. Record these in a simple chart to see if levels are dropping as expected and to share with your pediatrician.
  • Work with your healthcare team to ensure probiotics are given at the right time and in the right way (usually mixed with breast milk or formula). Set reminders to give probiotics on schedule, and keep notes on any changes in your baby’s digestion or symptoms.
  • Monitor your baby’s skin color (watching for yellowing), energy level, and feeding patterns. Keep a log of bilirubin test results and light therapy duration. Share this information with your doctor at follow-up visits to track progress and determine if the probiotics are helping.

This research summary is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Decisions about treating your newborn’s jaundice, including whether to use probiotics, should always be made in consultation with your pediatrician or neonatologist. The findings in this meta-analysis show modest benefits with mixed results, and individual babies may respond differently. Always follow your doctor’s recommendations for your specific situation, as they can consider your baby’s unique health factors.