Table 3.
A summary of four included probiotic studies
| Costalos 2003 [[39] | Indrio 2008 [[42] | Reuman 1986 [[41] | Stratiki 2007 [[40] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location of study |
Athens, Greece |
University of Bari, Policinico, Italy |
Gainesville, Florida, USA |
Alexandra Regional Hospital, Greece |
| Participants - inclusion criteria |
28 - 32 weeks gestation |
3- 5 days old, appropriate for gestational age, preterm infants with normal agpar scores |
Premature infants, <2000g at birth, less than 72 hours old (>24 old to <72 hours old) |
27 to 37 weeks gestation, in stable state |
| Number of study participants |
Study group=51 , Placebo = 36 |
Study group = 10 , Placebo = 10 |
Study group = 15, Placebo = 15 |
Study group = 41, Placebo = 34 |
| Probiotic bacteria used |
Saccharomyces Bourlardii |
Lactobacillus Reuteri ATCC 55730 |
Lactobacillus acidophilus |
Bifidobacteriumlactis |
| Dose of probiotic |
109cfu at 50mg/kg every 12 hours |
1 X 108cfu/day |
9 X 106cfu/ml formula |
2 X 107cfu/g milk powder |
| Placebo |
Maltodextrin |
Indistinguishable placebo |
Conventional preterm formula |
Conventional preterm formula |
| Dose of placebo |
50 mg /kg / 12 hours |
Not reported |
|
|
| Treatment initiation |
1st week of life as soon as enteral feed was tolerated |
At 3–5 days of life |
1st 72 hours of life |
1st 2 days of life |
| Treatment duration |
30 days |
30 days |
Not specified |
30 days |
|
Reported Outcomes |
|
|
|
|
| Growth parameters |
Weight gain |
Weight gain |
Weight gain |
Weight gain, Linear growth, Head circumference |
| Timing and duration of measurement of growth parameters |
Measured daily for 30 days |
Measured daily for 30 days |
Measured daily, duration not specified |
Weight gain: measured daily, Lineargrowth (measured weekly), Head circumference (measured weekly) |
| Feed tolerance |
Number of days to full enteral feed, Maximal enteral feed, vomiting |
Number of days to full enteral feed, Maximal enteral feed, vomiting |
Maximal enteral feed |
Number of days to full enteral feed, Maximal enteral feed |
| Stool characteristics |
|
Stooling frequency |
|
|
| Complications |
NEC, Sepsis |
|
Mortality / death |
NEC, Sepsis |
| Intestinal permeability |
Changes in Intestinal permeability |
|
|
Changes in Intestinal permeability |
| Changes in gastrointestinal microflora | cfu of bifidobacteria, lactobacillus, pathogens | cfu of bifidobacteria |