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Effect of probiotics on perinatal outcome in patients at high risk of preterm birth

Nami Kirihara1, Masato Kamitomo1, Tatsunori Tabira1

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kagoshima City Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.

The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research
|October 11, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Oral probiotics containing Clostridium significantly reduced preterm birth before 32 weeks. This intervention also improved gestational age, birth weight, and vaginal flora, while lowering infection rates.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Obstetrics
  • Perinatology

Background:

  • Preterm birth is linked to altered gut microbiota, with lower Clostridium and higher Lactobacillales levels observed.
  • The impact of probiotics on perinatal outcomes remains largely unelucidated.
  • Identifying interventions to prevent preterm birth is a critical public health objective.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of oral probiotics in improving perinatal outcomes.
  • To assess the influence of probiotics on gestational age, birth weight, and infection rates.
  • To determine the effect of probiotics on vaginal flora composition.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective evaluation of high-risk preterm birth patients receiving oral probiotics (Streptococcus faecalis, Clostridium butyricum, Bacillus mesentericus).
  • Comparison of perinatal outcomes between probiotic and non-probiotic groups, including gestational age, birth weight, chorioamnionitis/funisitis, and preterm birth before 32 weeks.
  • Multivariate regression analysis to identify factors influencing preterm birth and infection.

Main Results:

  • Probiotics group exhibited longer gestation, higher birth weight, and reduced chorioamnionitis/funisitis rates.
  • Higher rates of normal vaginal flora were observed in the probiotic group.
  • Multivariate analysis confirmed probiotics significantly suppressed preterm birth before 32 weeks (OR 0.05) and tended to suppress chorioamnionitis/funisitis (OR 0.07).

Conclusions:

  • Oral probiotics containing Clostridium demonstrate a significant preventive effect on preterm birth before 32 weeks of gestation.
  • Probiotic supplementation may be a viable strategy to improve perinatal outcomes in high-risk pregnancies.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms and optimize probiotic interventions for preterm birth prevention.
Abstract

Keywords:
chorioamnionitisclostridiumpreterm birthprobioticregulatory T cell

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