title: Effects of Saccharomyces boulardii on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since probiotics modulate intestinal functions and enterohepatic circulation; they might have an effect on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia treatment. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Saccharomyces boulardii supplementation on hyperbilirubinemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, double-blind, placebo controlled trial was performed on 35 to 42 gestational weeks' neonates. They were randomized either to receive feeding supplementation with S. boulardii 125 mg every 12 hours or placebo during phototherapy. Serum bilirubin levels were measured at 0, 24th, 48th, 72nd, and 96th hour of phototherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 119 infants (61 in the control group and 58 in the study group) were enrolled. The duration of phototherapy (2 [1-3] vs. 2 [1-3], p: 0.22) was not different between groups. The levels of bilirubin during phototherapy ([24th hour; 14.1 {12.8-15.7} vs. 13.5 {12.4-14.9}, p: 0.085]; [48th hour; 14.1 {12-15.3} vs. 13.4 {12.4-14.5}, p: 0.41]; [72nd hour; 13.9 {12.2-15.6} vs. 13.5 {12.5-14.5}, p: 0.41]; [96th hour; 14.7 {11.4-15.5} vs. 13.4 {10.7-14.1}, p: 0.24]) or the duration of rebound phototherapy (1 [1-1] vs. 1.5 [1-2], p: 0.40) were lower in the study group than in the controls, but none of the values were statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S. boulardii did not influence the clinical course of hyperbilirubinemia significantly.
authors.affiliation: Neonatology Unit, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozge
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Serce
authors.affiliation: Neonatology Unit, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tugba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gursoy
authors.affiliation: Neonatology Unit, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fahri
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ovali
authors.affiliation: Neonatology Unit, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Guner
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karatekin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051556:Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010789:Phototherapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012440:Saccharomyces; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin