title: Therapeutic effects of probiotics on neonatal jaundice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the therapeutic effects of probiotics on neonatal jaundice and the safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight neonates with jaundice were divided into a control group and a treatment group (n=34) randomly, and treated by blue light phototherapy and that in combination with probiotics. The serum bilirubin levels were detected before and 1, 4, 7 days after treatment. The time when therapy showed effects and jaundice faded, clinical outcomes as well as adverse reactions were recorded. The categorical data were expressed as (±s) and compared by t test. The numerical data were expressed as (case, %) and compared by χ² test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum bilirubin levels of the two groups were similar before treatment (P>0.05). The levels significantly decreased 1, 4 and 7 days after treatment (P<0.05), but there was no significant inter-group difference on the post-treatment 1st day (P>0.05). The treatment group underwent more significant decreases on the 4th and 7th days than the control group did (P=0.002, 0.001). In the treatment group, the therapy exerted effects on (1.0±0.5) d and jaundice faded on (3.8±1.7) d, which were (2.6±0.6) d and (5.3±2.1) d respectively in the control group (P=0.001, 0.002). The effective rate of the treatment group significantly exceeded that of the control group (P=0.002). There were no obvious adverse reactions in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Probiotics lowered the serum bilirubin levels of neonates with jaundice rapidly, safely and significantly, and accelerated jaundice fading as well. This method is worthy of application in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Wenbin Liu, Department of Pediatrics, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu 610083, PR China.
authors.forename: Wenbin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Huajun Liu, Department of Pediatrics, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu 610083, PR China.
authors.forename: Huajun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Taisen Wang, Department of Pediatrics, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu 610083, PR China.
authors.forename: Taisen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Xueqing Tang, Department of Pediatrics, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu 610083, PR China.
authors.forename: Xueqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
keywords: Bifid triple viable; Jaundice; Neonate; Probiotics