Hypothesis: inappropriate colonization of the premature intestine can cause neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.
Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a major cause of morbidity in preterm infants. We hypothesize that the intestinal injury in this disease is a consequence of synergy among three of the major risk factors for NEC: prematurity, enteral feeding, and bacterial colonization. Together these factors result in an exaggerated inflammatory response, leading to ischemic bowel necrosis. Human milk may decrease the incidence of NEC by decreasing pathogenic bacterial colonization, promoting growth of nonpathogenic flora, promoting maturation of the intestinal barrier, and ameliorating the proinflammatory response.
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Developmental Gastroenterology Laboratory, Combined Program in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02129, USA.
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D004064:Digestive System / Q000276:immunology; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000382:microbiology; D005502:Food / Q000009:adverse effects; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D008895:Milk, Human; D008954:Models, Biological