Therapeutic Use of Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Postbiotics to Prevent Necrotizing Enterocolitis: What is the Current Evidence?

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Ravi Mangal Patel, Emory University; Patricia Denning, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2013-03
• Publisher: Elsevier: 12 months
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clp.2012.12.002
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Clinics in Perinatology
• ISSN: 0095-5108
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 11
• End Page: 25
• Grant/Funding Information: Supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under Award Number UL1TR000454 (R.M.P.) and NIH R01 HD059122 (P.W.D).
• Keywords: Premature Infants; Necrotizing Enterocolitis; Probiotic Bacteria; Very Low Birth Weight
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality and preventative therapies that are both effective and safe are urgently needed. Current evidence from therapeutic trials suggests that probiotics are effective in decreasing NEC in preterm infants and probiotics are currently the most promising therapy on the horizon for this devastating disease. However, concerns regarding safety and optimal dosing have limited the widespread adoption of routine clinical use of probiotics in preterm infants. In addition, prebiotics and postbiotics may be potential alternatives or adjunctive therapies to the administration of live microorganisms, although studies demonstrating their clinical efficacy in preventing NEC are lacking. This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the use of probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics in the preterm infant, including its therapeutic role in preventing NEC.