Lack of Effects of Oral Probiotics on Growth and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Preterm Very Low Birth Weight Infants

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics Vol. 156; no. 3; pp. 393 - 396
• Main Authors: Chou, I-Ching, MD, Kuo, Haung-Tsung, MD, PhD, Chang, Jeng-Sheng, MD, Wu, Shu-Fen, MD, Chiu, Hsiao-Yu, MD, Su, Bai-Horng, MD, PhD, Lin, Hung-Chih, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Maryland Heights, MO Mosby, Inc 01-03-2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Age; Biological and medical sciences; Child Development; Child, Preschool; Developmental Disabilities - etiology; Developmental Disabilities - prevention & control; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing - prevention & control; Female; General aspects; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature - growth & development; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight - growth & development; Male; Medical sciences; Pediatrics; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Probiotics - administration & dosage; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; BSID-II; Psychomotor Development Index; Cerebral palsy; Preterm very low birth weight; IL; Mental Development Index; Interleukin; Neurodevelopmental impairment; PVL; Bayley Scales of Infant Development II; Necrotizing enterocolitis; Intraventricular hemorrhage; CP; NEC; Chronic lung disease; NDI; MDI; PDI; Periventricular leukomalacia; PVLBW; CLD; IVH; Human; Probiotic; Premature; Psychomotor development; Pediatrics; Pregnancy disorders; Growth; Oral administration; Premature delivery; Infant; Very low birthweight; Newborn diseases; Prematurity
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.09.051

Objective To evaluate growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm very low birth weight (PVLBW) infants treated with oral probiotics for the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Study design A prospective follow-up study was performed in a cohort of PVLBW infants enrolled in a single center with a masked randomized control trial to evaluate the efficacy of oral probiotics in preventing NEC. Growth measures included weight, length, and head circumference. Neurologic and sensory performance was evaluated with standard techniques. Psychometric parameters were measured used the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II (BSID-II). The studies were performed at 3 years corrected age. The primary outcome was death or neurodevelopmental impairment. Results Of the 367 subjects enrolled in trial, 301 (89.9%) were evaluated (153 in the probiotics group and 148 in the control group). There were no significant differences in growth or in any of the neurodevelopmental and sensory outcomes between the 2 groups. Conclusions Oral probiotics given to PVLBW infants at 1 week after birth to reduce the incidence of NEC did not affect growth and neurodevelopmental and sensory outcomes at 3 years corrected age.