Probiotics linked to fewer deaths in premature babies

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that probiotic supplementation may reduce the risk of severe intestinal disease and death among very preterm babies. Researchers from the Karolinska Institutet analyzed data from nearly 4,700 premature infants born in Sweden between 2017 and 2024. Those born between 28 and 31 weeks of gestation were at higher risk for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious gut infection.

The study found that babies who received daily probiotic supplements, containing three specific bacterial strains, had a significantly lower risk of both NEC and death compared to those who did not receive the supplements. Among the probiotic group, only 0.8% experienced either death or NEC, while 3.4% of the control group faced these issues. The risk of death was 0.3% in the probiotic group, versus 1.4% in the non-probiotic group. The risk of NEC was 0.6% and 2.5%, respectively.

The researchers noted that a significant portion of the lower mortality rate was likely due to fewer infants developing NEC. However, they did not find a clear link between probiotics and the risk of sepsis, a serious systemic infection. The percentage of children affected by sepsis was similar in both groups.

The study's authors caution that these findings should not be generalized to infants born extremely preterm (before 28 weeks), as that group was not included in the research. Additionally, the study is observational, meaning it can identify associations but cannot definitively establish cause-and-effect relationships. The findings add to the existing body of international research on probiotics for very preterm infants and may assist healthcare professionals and families in making informed decisions about probiotic use in these delicate patients.