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Use of Probiotics in Preterm Neonates

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Diet and Nutrition in Critical Care

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Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract of a premature infant is characterized by abnormal bacterial colonization which has been linked to poorly developed intestinal immunity and upregulated intestinal inflammatory responses. Probiotic supplementation creates an exciting approach in modulating gastrointestinal development, potentially affecting intestinal and nonintestinal diseases. Majority of the clinical trials involving preterm neonates have evaluated the effect of probiotics on necrotizing enterocolitis, death, and eventually on feeding tolerance and growth. Less commonly on infectious complications/sepsis, neurodevelopment and immune function developments/responses have been measured. While the results of recent meta-analysis suggesting reduction of necrotizing enterocolitis and mortality due to probiotics administration are promising, the data at present time are insufficient to recommend routine probiotics use in preterm newborn population.

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Abbreviations

AAP:

American Academy of Pediatrics

ASPEN:

American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

BW:

Birth weight

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

ELBW:

Extremely low birth weight infant

ESPGHAN:

European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

FDA:

Food and Drug Administration

GA:

Gestational age

IgA:

Immunoglobulin A

LGG:

Lactobacillus casei subspecies rhamnosus

LOHS:

Length of hospital stay

NASPGHAN:

North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

NEC:

Necrotizing enterocolitis

RCT:

Randomized clinical trial

RNA:

Ribonucleic acid

RR:

Relative risk

TLR:

Toll-like receptor

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Albert Einstein University, The Children’s Hospital of Montefiore, 1601 Tenbroeck Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA

    Thomas Havranek

  2. School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Saint Louis University, 1465 South Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO, 63104, USA

    Mohamad Alhosni

  3. Nutritional Services, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, 1465 South Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO, 63104, USA

    Rita Chrivia

Authors
  1. Thomas Havranek
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  2. Mohamad Alhosni
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  3. Rita Chrivia
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Havranek .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, King's College London, London, United Kingdom

    Rajkumar Rajendram

  2. School of Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Havranek, T., Alhosni, M., Chrivia, R. (2014). Use of Probiotics in Preterm Neonates. In: Rajendram, R., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Diet and Nutrition in Critical Care. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8503-2_64-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8503-2_64-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-8503-2

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