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Oral probiotics prevent necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight neonates

Alona Bin-Nun1, Ruben Bromiker, Michael Wilschanski

  • 1Department of Neonatology and Laboratories, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, the Faculty of Medicine of the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|August 30, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Probiotic supplementation significantly reduced the incidence and severity of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants. This intervention offers a natural defense, improving outcomes for vulnerable neonates.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Gastroenterology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal disease affecting preterm neonates.
  • The intestinal flora plays a crucial role in infant gut health and immune development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic probiotic administration in preventing and reducing the severity of NEC in preterm infants.
  • To test if normalizing intestinal flora with probiotics acts as a natural defense against NEC.

Main Methods:

  • Randomized controlled trial involving preterm neonates with birth weight <= 1500 g.
  • Intervention group received daily probiotic supplementation (Bifidobacteria infantis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacteria bifidus; 10(9) CFU/day).
  • Control group did not receive probiotic supplements. NEC severity was assessed using Bell's criteria.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in birth weight, gestational age, or time to full feeds between groups.
  • The incidence of NEC was significantly lower in the probiotic group (4% vs. 16.4%, P=.03).
  • NEC severity was reduced (Bell's criteria 2.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.5, P=.005), and all NEC-related deaths occurred in the control group.

Conclusions:

  • Probiotic supplementation effectively reduced both the incidence and severity of NEC in preterm neonates.
  • This suggests probiotics can serve as a protective measure for vulnerable infant populations.
  • Further research may support routine probiotic use in neonatal intensive care units.
Abstract

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