SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Pediatr.
Sec. Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Dietary and Complementary Oral Supplements for the Management of Chronic Diseases in Children: A Systematic Review
Provisionally accepted
Francesco Inchingolo1*
Alessio Danilo Inchingolo1
Grazia Marinelli2
Luisa Limongelli1
Gianfranco Favia1Laura Ferrante1Angela Di Noia1Cinzia Maspero3
Andrea Palermo4Angelo Michele Inchingolo1
Gianna Dipalma1*- 1University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
- 2university of Bari, bari, Italy
- 3Universita degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- 4Universita del Salento, Lecce, Italy
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Abstract. Aim: Chronic diseases in childhood and adolescence represent a growing global challenge, with families often seeking complementary strategies beyond pharmacological treatment. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dietary and oral supplements in pediatric chronic diseases. Materials and Methods: The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library was performed (2005–2025). Eligible studies enrolled children and adolescents (<18 years) with chronic diseases and assessed oral dietary supplements against placebo, standard care, or no intervention. Thirteen studies were included. Results: The studies investigated autism spectrum disorder (ASD), functional gastrointestinal disorders, cystic fibrosis (CF), type 1 diabetes (T1D), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Interventions included probiotics, omega-3/6 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, glutathione, Kre-Celazine® and Dimercaptosuccinic Acid (DMSA). Most supplements demonstrated measurable bioactivity, such as modulation of the gut microbiota, changes in inflammatory markers, or improvements in functional indices, but clinical benefits were often inconsistent or limited to subgroups. Safety was generally favorable for probiotics, polyunsaturated fatty acids, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin A, whereas DMSA chelation raised significant safety concerns. Conclusions: Dietary and oral supplements show promise as supportive interventions in pediatric chronic diseases but cannot yet be recommended for systematic clinical use. Larger multicenter trials with longer follow-up, standardized endpoints, and predictive biomarkers are needed to identify responder subgroups and establish evidence-based recommendations.
Keywords: alternative medicine, Children, chronic diseases, Dietary Supplements, Omega-3 fatty Acids, Probiotics, Vitamins
Received: 23 Sep 2025; Accepted: 19 Dec 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Inchingolo, Inchingolo, Marinelli, Limongelli, Favia, Ferrante, Di Noia, Maspero, Palermo, Inchingolo and Dipalma. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Francesco Inchingolo
Gianna Dipalma
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