Table 4 Comparison of the previous existing studies analysing the use of probiotics and premature infant neurodevelopment.
From: Effectiveness of a probiotic combination on the neurodevelopment of the very premature infant
Study | Probiotic used | Neurodevelopment assessment | Main results |
|---|---|---|---|
Jacobs et al.17 | Bifidobacterium infantis BB-02 96579 30 × 106, Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4 15957 350 × 106 and Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 15954 350 × 106 (ABC Dophilus Probiotic Powder for Infants, Solgar USA) | Composite of (at least one) at 2–5 years corrected age: Bayley-III < 77.5 or WPPSI-III < 2 standard deviations CP with GMFCS 2–5 Deafness requiring hearing aid or cochlear implant Blindness 6/60 better eye | No difference in survival free of neurodevelopment impairment RR 1.01 [0.93–1.09]. Deafness lower in probiotic group (0.6% vs 3.4%) |
Sari et al.18 | Lactibacillus sporogenes 350 × 106(DMG ITALIA SRL, Rome Italy) | Composite outcome of at last one at 18–22 months corrected age: Bayley-II < 70 PDI < 70 Deafness needing hearing aids in both ears Blindness with no useful vision in either eye CP (abnormal one in 1 limb) | There was no significant difference in growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes (p = 0.788) between the two groups |
Romeo et al.19 | Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730 1 × 108 or Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 6 × 109 | Hammersmith score of < 73 (suboptimal) at 12 months corrected age | No statistical differences were observed in the incidence of suboptimal scores in both probiotic groups (p > 0.05). Statistically significant difference of suboptimal scores (p < 0.05) in the control group vs both probiotic groups |
Chou et al.20 | Lactobacillus acidophilus 109 and Bifidobacterium infantis 109 (Swiss Serum and Vaccine Institute, Berne, Switzerland) | Composite of (at least one) at 3 years corrected age: Bayley-II < 70 PDI < 70 Bilateral Blindness Hearing impairment > 55 dB in both ears CP requiring ambulatory assistance | No significant differences in growth or in any of the neurodevelopmental and sensory outcomes between the 2 groups |
Akar et al.21 | Lactobacillus reuteri 108 (Biogaia AB, Stockholm, Sweden) | Composite outcome of at last one at 18–24 months corrected age: Bayley-II < 70 PDI < 70 Deafness needing hearing aids in both ears Blindness with no useful vision in either eye CP (abnormal tone in 1 limb) | Neurodevelopment impairment did not differ between groups Probiotic 37/124 vs Non-probiotic 37/125 p = 0.96 |
