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Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics for the Prevention of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Kiera Murphy1,2, R Paul Ross2, C Anthony Ryan2,3

  • 1Food Biosciences Department, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Cork, Ireland.

Frontiers in Nutrition
|September 24, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants may be linked to gut microbiota changes. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics are being studied to prevent NEC, with current guidelines on their use being reviewed.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a significant cause of illness and death in premature infants.
  • The precise mechanisms of NEC development are unclear, but gut microbiota alterations are increasingly implicated.
  • Modulating the gut microbiota with probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics is a key research area.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of the gut microbiota in NEC pathogenesis.
  • To examine evidence on probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics for NEC prevention in preterm infants.
  • To explore current clinical guidelines regarding probiotic use for NEC.

Main Methods:

  • Narrative review of the literature.
  • Analysis of randomized controlled trials, observational studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.
  • Examination of current clinical practice guidelines.

Main Results:

  • Growing evidence suggests gut microbiota dysbiosis increases NEC risk.
  • Studies on probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics show varied results in NEC prevention.
  • Clinical guidelines on routine probiotic administration for NEC in preterm infants are under review.

Conclusions:

  • The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in NEC development.
  • Further research is needed to establish optimal strategies for microbiota modulation in NEC prevention.
  • Evidence-based guidelines are essential for the clinical application of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics.

Keywords:
microbiomenecrotizing enterocolitisprebioticprobioticsynbiotic

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