Therapeutic effects of synbiotic on neonates with gestational age over 34 weeks admitted for jaundice

Hyperbilirubinemia is a common problem in neonates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of synbiotic in addition to routine phototherapy on the treatment of neonatal jaundice.

This double-blind clinical trial, was performed on 194, 3-14 days old neonates. Neonates were divided into intervention and placebo groups. The intervention group received 5 drops of oral synbiotic daily along with phototherapy and the placebo group underwent phototherapy plus a placebo. Gestational age, age, weight, sex, initial and daily bilirubin level, frequency of defecation, mode of delivery, and length of hospitalization were assessed.

The rate of bilirubin reduction on the first day of admission was significantly higher in the intervention group (2.9±1.81 vs. 2.06±1.93, p = 0.002). The mean level of bilirubin on the second (9.8±1.92 vs. 10.88±2.26) and third days (8.06±1.54 vs. 9.86±1.7) was lower in the intervention group (p = 0.001). The proportion of discharged patients in the third and fourth days was higher in the intervention group compared to the control (65% vs. 41%, 99% vs. 86.5%, respectively, p = 0.001). However, the duration of hospitalization was shorter in the intervention group compared to the control (2.36±0.5 vs. 2.74±0.74, p = 0.001).

Based on our results, daily treatment with 5 drops of synbiotic along with phototherapy can be a safe and effective modality in faster bilirubin reduction, decreasing the hospitalization period and phototherapy. Therefore, it seems that it can be used as an adjunct therapy for neonates with jaundice.