title: A double-blinded randomized trial on growth and feeding tolerance with Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 in formula-fed preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of probiotics is increasingly popular in preterm neonates, as they may prevent necrotizing enterocolitis sepsis and improve growth and feeding tolerance. There is only limited literature on Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 (S. boulardii) in preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized, case-controlled trial with the probiotic S. boulardii (50mg/kg twice daily) was conducted in newborns with a gestational age of 30-37 weeks and a birth weight between 1500 and 2500g.
  
  
  RESULTS
  125 neonates were enrolled; 63 in the treatment and 62 in the control group. Weight gain (16.14±1.96 vs. 10.73±1.77g/kg/day, p<0.05) and formula intake at maximal enteral feeding (128.4±6.7 vs. 112.3±7.2mL/kg/day, p<0.05) were significantly higher in the intervention group. Once enteral feeding was started, the time needed to reach full enteral feeding was significantly shorter in the probiotic group (0.4±0.1 vs. 1.7±0.5 days, p<0.05). There was no significant difference in sepsis. Necrotizing enterocolitis did not occur. No adverse effects related to S. boulardii were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prophylactic supplementation of S. boulardii at a dose of 50mg/kg twice a day improved weight gain, improved feeding tolerance, and had no adverse effects in preterm infants >30 weeks old.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Lingfen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China. Electronic address: maozq@sj-hospital.org.
authors.forename: Zhiqin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: UZ Brussel, Department of Pediatrics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vandenplas
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D041943:Infant Formula; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069983:Saccharomyces boulardii; D018805:Sepsis / Q000517:prevention & control; D015430:Weight Gain
keywords: (In)Tolerância de alimentação; Crescimento; Enterocolite necrosante; Feeding (in)tolerance; Growth; Necrotizing enterocolitis; Neonato prematuro; Preterm infant; Probiotic; Probiótico; Sepse; Sepsis