title: Probiotic supplement reduces risk of necrotizing enterocolitis and mortality in preterm very low-birth-weight infants: an updated meta-analysis of 20 randomized, controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common acquired disease of the gastrointestinal tract in preterm infants, whereas probiotic supplementation might reduce NEC risk and potentially provide benefits to preterm infants. We performed an updated meta-analysis of all relevant randomized, controlled trials to assess the benefits of probiotic supplementation for preterm very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched in PubMed, Embase, and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database (CBM) databases, and 20 randomized, controlled trials (a total of 3816 preterm VLBW infants) were finally included into this meta-analysis. Incidence and relative risk (RR) were calculated using a random-effects or fixed-effects model depending on the heterogeneity of the included studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Probiotic supplement was associated with a significantly decreased risk of NEC in preterm VLBW infants (RR = 0.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24-0.46; P < .00001). Risk of death was also significantly reduced in the probiotic group (RR = 0.56; 95% CI, 0.43-0.73; P < .0001). There was no difference in the risk of sepsis between the probiotic group and placebo group (RR = 0.90; 95% CI, 0.71-1.15; P = .40).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Probiotic supplement can reduce risk of NEC and mortality in preterm VLBW infants. However, the optimum type of probiotic supplement and the long-term effects need further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, People's Hospital of Xiangtan County, Xiangtan County 411200, Hunan Province, China. wangqzhn@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Quanzhen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Yimin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D019587:Dietary Supplements; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012306:Risk