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Probiotic supplementation in mothers of very low birth weight infants

Shira Benor1, Ronella Marom2, Amir Ben Tov

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

American Journal of Perinatology
|August 13, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Maternal probiotic supplementation may reduce necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants. This study found lower NEC rates in infants whose mothers received oral probiotics postpartum.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) poses a significant risk to preterm infants.
  • Concerns regarding the safety and purity of direct probiotic administration to infants exist.
  • Maternal probiotic supplementation offers a potential alternative to protect vulnerable infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of maternal oral probiotic supplementation in reducing NEC incidence in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.
  • To assess the impact on infant sepsis and mortality rates.
  • To explore a safer method for probiotic delivery to preterm infants via maternal breast milk.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted.
  • Mothers of VLBW infants received either Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria lactis or a placebo postpartum.
  • Infants were exclusively fed maternal breast milk.

Main Results:

  • The incidence of Bell stage II to III NEC was 4% in the probiotic group versus 18.2% in the placebo group (p=0.12).
  • While not statistically significant, a trend towards reduced NEC was observed with maternal probiotic use.
  • Sepsis and mortality rates were comparable between the groups.

Conclusions:

  • Postpartum maternal oral probiotic supplementation shows a potential to decrease NEC incidence in breastfed VLBW infants.
  • This approach may mitigate safety concerns associated with direct infant probiotic administration.
  • Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and optimize probiotic interventions.
Abstract

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