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A Neonatal BALB/c Mouse Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis
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Lactoferrin and necrotizing enterocolitis

Michael P Sherman1, Mindy M Miller, Jan Sherman

  • 1aDepartment of Child Health bDepartment of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine cSinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri dDivision of Neonatal Medicine, Nemours Children's Hospital, Orlando, Florida, USA.

Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|February 8, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Enteral lactoferrin may reduce necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. Breast milk, a natural lactoferrin source, is recommended for extremely preterm infants to potentially lower disease incidence.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Gastroenterology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal disease in preterm infants.
  • Lactoferrin, a protein found in milk, has demonstrated protective properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the scientific and clinical evidence on the efficacy of enteral lactoferrin in preventing NEC in preterm infants.
  • To assess the potential of lactoferrin as a therapeutic agent for NEC.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preclinical studies in neonatal rats.
  • Analysis of a multicentered clinical trial involving very low-birth weight preterm infants.

Main Results:

  • Oral lactoferrin reduced bacteremia and mortality in rat models of NEC.
  • Enteral bovine lactoferrin significantly reduced late-onset sepsis in preterm infants.
  • A trend towards diminished NEC incidence was observed in the clinical trial.

Conclusions:

  • Colostrum, rich in lactoferrin, should be given to extremely preterm infants immediately after birth.
  • Continued breastfeeding throughout hospitalization is recommended.
  • Further research is needed to confirm the reduction in NEC prevalence with these practices.
Abstract

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