Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2025
Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
Neurodevelopment and Growth 2 Years After Probiotic Supplementation in Extremely Preterm Infants: A Randomised Trial
Erik Wejryd1,2, Giovanna Marchini3, Peter Bang1,4
1Division of Children's and Women's Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Insights
Supplementing extremely preterm infants with Limosilactobacillus reuteri improved language scores at two years corrected age. This probiotic intervention did not significantly impact overall growth or general neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal research
- Pediatric neurodevelopment
- Microbiome research
Background:
- Extremely preterm infants face significant risks for neurodevelopmental impairments.
- Early life interventions aim to mitigate adverse outcomes in this vulnerable population.
- The role of probiotics like Limosilactobacillus reuteri in neonatal care is an area of ongoing investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of Limosilactobacillus reuteri supplementation on neurodevelopment and growth in extremely preterm infants.
- To assess outcomes at 2 years corrected age following early probiotic intervention.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
- Inclusion of infants born at 23-27 weeks gestation with birth weight under 1000g.
- Daily enteral supplementation with Limosilactobacillus reuteri or placebo from within 72 hours of birth until 35-36 weeks postmenstrual age.
- Neurodevelopmental assessment using Bayley-III and auxology at 24 ± 3 months corrected age.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant improvement in language scores was observed in the Limosilactobacillus reuteri group (mean 90) compared to the placebo group (mean 83; p=0.04).
- No significant differences were found in other neurodevelopmental domains or physical growth parameters between the groups.
- Follow-up data were available for 110 of 117 surviving infants, with 85 undergoing Bayley-III assessment.
Conclusions:
- Limosilactobacillus reuteri supplementation in extremely preterm infants did not alter growth or general neurodevelopmental outcomes at two years corrected age.
- A notable improvement in the language index was observed with L. reuteri supplementation.
- These findings warrant further investigation, particularly in light of previous reports of improved head circumference growth in early infancy.
Aim:
To assess neurodevelopment and growth at 2 years corrected age in children born extremely preterm, supplemented with Limosilactobacillus reuteri or placebo.
Methods:
Design: Secondary analysis of register data after randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
Setting:
Inclusion at two neonatal intensive care units in Sweden. Local follow-up per national guidelines.
Subjects:
134 infants born at 23-27 weeks' gestation with a birth weight < 1000 g.
Intervention:
Daily enteral supplementation with placebo or Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (2.5 × 108 colony forming units), from within 72 h after birth to postmenstrual week 35-36.
Main Outcome Measures:
Bayley-III developmental assessment and auxology at 24 ± 3 months corrected age.
Results:
Follow-up data were available for 110 of 117 surviving participants, and 85 children were assessed with Bayley-III. Mean language score after supplementation with L. reuteri was 90 (95% confidence interval: 85-95) compared to 83 in the placebo group (95% CI: 78-88), p = 0.04. No other significant differences in neurodevelopment or growth were observed.
Conclusion:
Supplementation with L. reuteri in extremely preterm infants was not associated with altered growth nor general neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years while language index was improved. This is interesting given previously reported early improved growth of head circumference.
