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Single strain versus multispecies probiotic on necrotizing enterocolitis and faecal IgA levels in very low birth

Guadalupe Gómez-Rodríguez1, Norma Amador-Licona2, Leonel Daza-Benítez3

  • 1Department of Health Research, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guanajuato, Leon, Mexico.

Pediatrics and Neonatology
|March 23, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Single strain or multispecies probiotics did not differ in preventing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or increasing fecal secretory IgA (sIgA) in preterm infants. Fecal sIgA levels correlated with gestational age and birth weight.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Probiotics show promise for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants.
  • Variations in probiotic composition necessitate comparative trials.
  • This study compares single-strain versus multi-species probiotics for NEC prevention and impact on fecal secretory IgA (sIgA).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the efficacy of single-strain (Lactobacillus acidophilus boucardii) versus multi-species probiotics in preventing NEC.
  • To assess the impact of these probiotics on fecal secretory IgA (sIgA) levels in very low preterm newborns.
  • To evaluate the relationship between sIgA levels and clinical outcomes in preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, randomized trial involving 90 preterm newborns.
  • Infants were assigned to receive either L. acidophilus boucardii or multi-species probiotics.
  • Primary outcome: NEC incidence; Secondary outcome: change in fecal sIgA levels over 3 weeks.

Main Results:

  • NEC incidence was similar between groups (0% vs. 2.2%).
  • Fecal sIgA levels increased significantly in both groups (31% vs. 47%), with no significant difference between them.
  • Higher sIgA increments correlated with greater gestational age and birth weight.

Conclusions:

  • Neither single-strain nor multi-species probiotics demonstrated a significant difference in preventing NEC or increasing fecal sIgA levels.
  • Fecal sIgA levels were positively associated with gestational age and body weight in very low preterm infants.
  • No adverse effects were reported with probiotic use.
Abstract

Keywords:
birth weightpreterm newbornsprobiotics

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