Monday Sep 29, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- K. Alfaleh and J. Anabrees at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia conducted a meta-analysis and found that supplementation with probiotics can help reduce risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, but not nosocomial sepsis in preterm infants.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and nosocomial sepsis are linked to increased morbidity and mortality in preterm infants.  Introducing health-beneficial bacteria (prophylactic enteral probiotics) into the gut can help wipe out pathogenic bacterial and enhance the immune responses of the host.

Necrotizing enterocolitis is a serious condition that affects the bowel of premature newborns in the very first few weeks of life.  Although the cause remains unknown, necrotizing enterocolitis is considered having something to do with milk feeding and bacterial growth.

The meta-analysis was based on data from twenty-four randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials of preterm infants less than 37 weeks gestational age or less than 2500 grams of birth weight, or both.

The meta-analysis found enteral probiotics supplementation reduced the incidence of severe NEC (stage II or more) by 57% and lowered the mortality by 35%, compared to no supplementation.  But the probiotic supplementation did not significantly reduce the risk of nosocomial sepsis.

Probiotic preparations containing with either lactobacillus alone or in combination with bidfidobacterium were found effective against necrotizing enterocolitis.

It should be noted that the benefits and adverse effects of probiotics supplementation in the most at-risk infants weighing less than 1000 grams of birth weight remain unknown as most infants in trials had a higher birth weight. (David Liu, PHD)

AlFaleh K, Anabrees J.  Probiotics for prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants.  Evid Based Child Health. 2014 Sep;9(3):584-671.