Scientist - News - 04-08-2008:
«BackProbiotics potentially beneficial to preterm infants Beintema, Nienke A new Danish study suggests that probiotic bacteria may reduce the occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious gut complication that is common among preterm infants. The study involved 27 caesarean-delivered preterm piglets which were divided into three groups. One group was fed porcine colostrum, the second received an infant formula, and the third group was fed infant formula with Bifidobacterium animalis and four Lactobacillus strains (L. acidophilus, L. casei, L. pentosus, and L. plantarum). The researchers found that the probiotic-containing formula reduced both the occurrence and the severity of NEC compared to the standard formula. The occurrence dropped from 89 percent to 69 percent, while the NEC severity score was reduced from 3.4 to 2.0. However, porcine colostrum was the most beneficial: only 40 percent of the colostrum fed group developed NEC, with an average NEC severity of 1.7. Breastfeeding and probiotics? "This study demonstrates that probiotics administered immediately after delivery can improve intestinal function and health of neonates susceptible to NEC by promoting the early colonization of a beneficial microbiota," the authors suggest in their paper, which appears in the August edition of the Journal of Nutrition. "Such effects may be particularly important following caesarean delivery and parenteral nutrition, two components that delay the neonatal acquisition of bacteria." Indeed, NEC is a complication that frequently affects preterm infants. Lead author Richard Siggers from the University of Copenhagen elaborates per email: "The percentage of preterm infants that develop NEC is variable and can differ between hospitals and geographical locations. However it is commonly reported that 10 percent of all preterm infants will develop NEC." The researchers used caesarean-delivered preterm piglets as a model for preterm human infants. Clinically and histologically, NEC symptoms in pigs closely resemble those in humans. In addition, the gastrointestinal tract of piglets shows a high degree of anatomical and physiological similarity with that of infants. The results indicate, in line with numerous earlier studies, that breast milk is to be preferred to infant formula. For those mothers who choose not to breastfeed, or who are unable to, probiotics may improve the effectiveness of formula. Wouldn’t breast milk supplemented with probiotics provide an even better health effect? "To date, that question has not been clearly addressed within the context of NEC," Siggers responds. "We generally believe that breastfeeding is the optimal diet for infants (both preterm and term) and that mother’s milk provides adequate passive immunity, beneficially regulates innate immune responses, and moderates the influence of bacteria during the neonatal period. Therefore, whether the inclusion of probiotics into the diet of breastfed infants will provide further protection to NEC is speculative at this time." Siggers continues to explain that recent evidence has suggested that breastfed infants susceptible to developing allergies may have a reduced risk of developing allergies when supplemented with probiotics. "While the etiology differs between allergies and NEC," he writes, "such studies are suggestive that while breastfeeding is considered optimal, it may be possible to supplement mother’s milk to provide further benefit to the infant." Further research is also needed to shed light on other remaining questions, including on the optimal dose, timing, and strains of probiotics to use. More information: Article in the Journal of Nutrition |