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Beneficial microbes for premature infants, and children with malignancy undergoing chemotherapy

Y Yamashiro1, S Nagata

  • 1Department of Probiotics Research Laboratory, Juntendo University, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan. yamasiro@juntendo.ac.jp

Beneficial Microbes
|August 12, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Bifidobacterium breve supplementation effectively prevented necrotizing enterocolitis and infection in premature infants. It also attenuated chemotherapy-induced mucositis in pediatric cancer patients, highlighting its therapeutic potential.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and infections pose significant risks to premature infants.
  • Chemotherapy for pediatric cancers often leads to debilitating mucositis.
  • The role of probiotics in mitigating these conditions requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of Bifidobacterium breve (B. breve) as a probiotic in preventing NEC and infection in premature infants.
  • To assess the impact of B. breve on chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis in children with cancer.

Main Methods:

  • A clinical study involving 338 very low birth weight infants supplemented with B. breve (M-16V) daily.
  • A placebo-controlled trial with 42 pediatric cancer patients receiving B. breve (BBG-01) during chemotherapy.
  • Monitoring of NEC incidence, infection rates, fever, antibiotic use, and gut microbiota composition.

Main Results:

  • B. breve administration significantly reduced NEC incidence and infections in premature infants.
  • Pediatric cancer patients receiving B. breve showed significantly lower fever and antibiotic use.
  • B. breve enhanced beneficial anaerobe colonization and mitigated chemotherapy-induced gut microbiota disruption.

Conclusions:

  • Bifidobacterium breve is an effective probiotic for preventing NEC and infections in preterm infants.
  • B. breve shows promise in attenuating chemotherapy-induced mucositis in pediatric cancer patients.
  • These findings support the use of B. breve for improving outcomes in vulnerable pediatric populations.

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