Probiotics in Premature Infants May Reduce Incidence of Necrotic Colon Condition.

A new meta-analysis evaluating the use of probiotic cultures in the treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants found a significant reduction in incidence of this serious colon condition. This review was conducted in Australia and published in the Lancet (369:1614-20, 2007; DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60748-X). Researchers followed Cochrane Neonatal Review Group standards to include seven random controlled trials and a total of 1,393 infants in their review. Included studies evaluated the safety and efficacy of probiotic in infants who had received probiotics beginning within 10 days of birth and lasting for at least seven days.

NEC is a syndrome of infection and inflammation resulting in destruction of part or the entire bowel. While NEC accounts for 5% or less of neonatal intensive care admissions, it is the most common and serious GI disorder in hospitalized premature infants. This meta-analysis found that risk of developing NEC was reduced by nearly two thirds in the probiotic group compared to control. Probiotic supplementation also reduced the risk of death due to NEC by almost half and shortened the time before infants could receive full feeding. Researchers concluded that probiotic supplementation in premature infants may reduce the risk of NEC, but stated that more research was necessary to determine dose, duration and the type of probiotic culture necessary for the best results.

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