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Updated: Oct 23, 2025
Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
The effect of probiotic supplementation on the gut microbiota of preterm infants
Erica L Plummer1,2,3, Jennifer A Danielewski1,2, Suzanne M Garland1,2,4
1Centre for Women's Infectious Diseases Research, The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
Probiotic supplementation in preterm infants enhances gut colonization by beneficial bacteria, including Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis. Early initiation of probiotics shortly after birth may improve long-term gut microbiota health.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Neonatal Medicine
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Probiotic supplementation in preterm infants is explored for preventing serious morbidities.
- The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in infant health and development.
- Understanding long-term colonization patterns of probiotics is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of a specific probiotic formula on the gut microbiota of very preterm infants.
- To determine the factors influencing the detection and persistence of probiotic species in the infant gut.
- To assess the long-term colonization effects of probiotic supplementation post-intervention.
Main Methods:
- A blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted with very preterm infants.
- Longitudinal stool samples were collected and analyzed using real-time PCR for probiotic species presence.
- Logistic regression analysis was employed to evaluate the impact of supplementation and timing.
Main Results:
- Probiotic supplementation significantly increased the detection of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, and Streptococcus thermophilus during the intervention period.
- Post-supplementation, increased detection of B. longum subsp. infantis and B. animalis subsp. lactis persisted in supplemented infants.
- Initiating probiotic supplementation before 5 days of age was associated with increased detection of all three probiotic species throughout the study period.
Conclusions:
- Probiotic supplementation with B. longum subsp. infantis BB-02, B. animalis subsp. lactis BB-12, and S. thermophilus TH-4 effectively enhances the presence of these species in the gut microbiota of very preterm infants.
- The findings suggest that early initiation of probiotic supplementation shortly after birth is crucial for achieving long-term colonization benefits.
- This study provides evidence supporting the use of specific probiotics for modulating the gut microbiota in vulnerable preterm populations.
Abstract:
Introduction. Probiotic supplementation of preterm infants may prevent serious morbidities associated with prematurity.Aim. To investigate the impact of probiotic supplementation on the gut microbiota and determine factors associated with detection of probiotic species in the infant gut.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Probiotic supplementation increases the long-term colonization of probiotic species in the gut of preterm infants.Methodology. Longitudinal stool samples were collected from a cohort of very preterm infants participating in a blinded randomized controlled trial investigating the impact of probiotic supplementation (containing Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis BB-02, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4) for prevention of late-onset sepsis. The presence of B. longum subsp. infantis, B. animalis subsp. lactis and S. thermophilus was determined for up to 23 months after supplementation ended using real-time PCR. Logistic regression was used to investigate the impact of probiotic supplementation on the presence of each species.Results. Detection of B. longum subsp. infantis [odds ratio (OR): 53.1; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 35.6-79.1; P < 0.001], B. animalis subsp. lactis (OR: 89.1; 95 % CI: 59.0-134.5; P < 0.001) and S. thermophilus (OR: 5.66; 95 % CI: 4.35-7.37; P < 0.001) was increased during the supplementation period in infants receiving probiotic supplementation. Post-supplementation, probiotic-supplemented infants had increased detection of B. longum subsp. infantis (OR: 2.53; 95 % CI: 1.64-3.90; P < 0.001) and B. animalis subsp. lactis (OR: 1.59; 95 % CI: 1.05-2.41; P=0.030). Commencing probiotic supplementation before 5 days from birth was associated with increased detection of the probiotic species over the study period (B. longum subsp. infantis, OR: 1.20; B. animalis subsp. lactis, OR: 1.28; S. thermophilus, OR: 1.45).Conclusion. Probiotic supplementation with B. longum subsp. infantis BB-02, B. animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and S. thermophilus TH-4 enhances the presence of probiotic species in the gut microbiota of very preterm infants during and after supplementation. Commencing probiotic supplementation shortly after birth may be important for improving the long-term colonization of probiotic species.
