Association between funding source, methodological quality and research outcomes in randomized controlled trials of synbiotics, probiotics and prebiotics added to infant formula: A Systematic Review

Table 11 Association between sponsor and clinical outcomes: Necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis and antibiotic use

	Source of funding	Positive*	Neutral*	Chi-square p value	Fisher’s exact p value
	Source of funding	n (%)^$$	n (%)^$$	Chi-square p value	Fisher’s exact p value
Necrotising enterocolitis N = 11	Industry		4 (36.4)	0.118	0.273
	None/Not clear		3 (27.3)
	Non industry	2 (18.2)	2 (18.2)
Sepsis N = 10	Industry		2 (20)	Not Valid
	None/Not clear		3 (30)
	Non industry		5 (50)
Antibiotic use N = 19	Industry	4 (21.1)	4 (21.1)	0.031^#	0.039^#
	None/Not clear		5 (26.3)
	Non industry		6 (31.6)

^$$ Overall percentage.
*Positive: synbiotic, probiotic or prebiotic supplementation had a statistically significant effect, p < 0.05. There were significant differences between study groups (in favour of experimental group).
*Neutral: synbiotic, probiotic or prebiotic supplementation did not have a statistically significant effect, p > 0.05, No significant differences between study groups.
^# Significant p < 0.05.

ISSN: 1471-2288