Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
10:36

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage

Published on: January 27, 2019

20.5K

Probiotics for Preterm Infants in India - Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Haribalakrishna Balasubramanian1, Anitha Ananthan2, Shripada Rao3,4

  • 1Department of Neonatology, Surya Mother and Child Care Hospital, Mumbai, India.

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|March 19, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Probiotic supplementation significantly reduces the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, and mortality in preterm infants in India. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) supports their use for improved infant outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Microbiology
  • Clinical Trials

Background:

  • Preterm infants are vulnerable to serious complications like necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis.
  • Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in infant health, and probiotics may modulate this.
  • Evidence on probiotic efficacy in Indian preterm infants requires systematic evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and meta-analyze randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating probiotic use in preterm infants in India.
  • To assess the impact of probiotics on key neonatal outcomes, including NEC, sepsis, mortality, and feeding milestones.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review adhering to Cochrane methodology and PRISMA guidelines.
  • Meta-analysis of 9 RCTs involving 1514 preterm infants.
  • Fixed effects model employed for statistical analysis.

Main Results:

  • Probiotics significantly reduced the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) ≥ Stage II (RR: 0.36, p=0.0009).
  • Reduced risk of late-onset sepsis (RR: 0.56, p<0.00001) and mortality (RR: 0.62, p=0.03) observed.
  • Probiotic use shortened time to full feeds (MD: -4.09 days) and duration of hospital stay (MD: -2.00 days).

Conclusions:

  • Current evidence strongly supports probiotic supplementation for improving outcomes in preterm infants in India.
  • Probiotics offer a safe and effective intervention to mitigate major morbidities and reduce hospital stay.
  • Further research may explore specific probiotic strains and optimal dosing for diverse neonatal populations.

Keywords:
IndiaNecrotizing enterocolitisPretermProbioticSepsis

More Related Videos

Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers09:36

Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers

Published on: July 28, 2022

2.5K
Individualized Reconstitution of Human Milk Microbiota: A Feasible Approach in Real-World Settings04:16

Individualized Reconstitution of Human Milk Microbiota: A Feasible Approach in Real-World Settings

Published on: February 7, 2025

784

Related Concept Videos

Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
86.3K
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
183
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy01:30

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy

Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
562
Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS01:17

Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is a subtype of IBS characterized primarily by frequent, loose, or watery stools, abdominal pain, and abdominal discomfort. Therapeutic approaches to managing IBS-D include dietary changes, stress management techniques, and pharmaceutical interventions.
Two specific drugs used in the treatment are alosetron (Lotronex) and eluxadoline (Viberzi). Alosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, works by slowing the movement of stools in the gut, reducing bowel...
534
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
180