title: Effect of early administration of probiotics on gut microflora and feeding in pre-term infants: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of early probiotic administration on gut microflora and influence on feeding in pre-term infants.
  
  
  
  A double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical study was conducted to assess the effect of probiotics [live, combined lactobacillus and bifidobacterium (LCB)] supplementation in pre-term infants. Sixty hospitalized pre-term babies were randomly assigned to two groups: a probiotics-supplemented group and the control group. The primary endpoint was measurement of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium in the gut. The secondary outcome was the rate of feeding intolerance.
  
  
  
  In the first weekend, the quantity of gut lactobacillus and bifidobacterium was significantly higher in the probiotics-supplemented group than in the control group [7.84 ± 0.35 versus 6.39 ± 0.53 (log copy number/g wet fecal weight), p = 0.013; 8.52 ± 0.23 versus 7.01 ± 0.48, p = 0.024, respectively]. In the second weekend, the amount of gut lactobacillus and bifidobacterium in the probiotics-supplemented group remained significantly higher (8.62 ± 0.28 versus 7.34 ± 0.59, p = 0.036 and 9.45 ± 0.64 versus 7.85 ± 0.43, p = 0.007, respectively). Fewer patients in the probiotics-supplemented group developed a feeding intolerance (13.3% versus 46.7%, p = 0.013).
  
  
  
  Probiotic supplementation in the hospitalized pre-term infants in the first 2 weeks of life resulted in higher amounts of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium in the gut and a concomitant lower rate of feeding intolerance.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatrics , The First People's Hospital of Kunsha, Jiangsu University , Kunshan , China.
authors.forename: Lin-Xia
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatrics , The First People's Hospital of Kunsha, Jiangsu University , Kunshan , China.
authors.forename: Wen-Ying
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatrics , The First People's Hospital of Kunsha, Jiangsu University , Kunshan , China.
authors.forename: Hai-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatrics , The First People's Hospital of Kunsha, Jiangsu University , Kunshan , China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D006801:Humans; D018730:Infant Behavior; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*
keywords: Feeding intolerance; gut microbiota; pre-term infants; probiotic supplementation