Oral supplementation with probiotics in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Although recent reports suggest that supplementation with probiotics may enhance intestinal function in premature infants, the mechanisms are unclear, and questions remain regarding the safety and efficacy of probiotics in extremely low-birth-weight infants.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics on the digestive tolerance to enteral feeding in preterm infants born with a very low or extremely low birth weight.


METHODS
In a bicentric, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial that was stratified for center and birth weight, 45 infants received enteral probiotics (Bifidobacterium longum BB536 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG; BB536-LGG) and 49 received placebo. The primary endpoint was the percentage of infants receiving >50% of their nutritional needs via enteral feeding on the 14th day of life. A triangular test was used to perform sequential analysis.


RESULTS
The trial was discontinued after the fourth sequential analysis concluded a lack of effect. The primary endpoint was not significantly different between the probiotic (57.8%) and placebo (57.1%) groups (P = 0.95). However, in infants who weighed >1000 g, probiotic supplementation was associated with a shortening in the time to reach full enteral feeding (P = 0.04). Other than colonization by the probiotic strains, no alteration in the composition of intestinal microbiota or changes in the fecal excretion of calprotectin was observed. No colonization by probiotic strains was detected in infants who weighed < or =1000 g, presumably because of more frequent suspensions of enteral feeding, more courses of antibiotic treatment, or both.


CONCLUSIONS
Supplementation with BB536-LGG may not improve the gastrointestinal tolerance to enteral feeding in very-low-birth-weight infants but may improve gastrointestinal tolerance in infants weighing >1000 g. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT 00290576.
Rougé
Carole
C
INRA UMR 1280, Physiologie des Adaptations Nutritionnelles, INRA and University of Nantes, Human Nutrition Research Center, Nantes, France.
Piloquet
Hugues
H
Butel
Marie-José
MJ
Berger
Bernard
B
Rochat
Florence
F
Ferraris
Laurent
L
Des Robert
Clotilde
C
Legrand
Arnaud
A
de la Cochetière
Marie-France
MF
N'Guyen
Jean-Michel
JM
Vodovar
Michel
M
Voyer
Marcel
M
Darmaun
Dominique
D
Rozé
Jean-Christophe
JC
D001644:Bifidobacterium; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000032:analysis; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex