Probiotics Supplementation in Premature Infants

Probiotics Supplementation and Nutritional Benefit in Premature Infants

The main objective is to assess the nutritional benefit of probiotics supplementation on premature infants growth. As secondary objectives, different parameters related to probiotics tolerance will be measured.

Inclusion criteria

• Gestational age between 26 weeks and 31 weeks
• Birth weight between 700 to 1600 g
• Eutrophic infants (weight between -2 to 2 DS, Usher curves)
• Admitted to one of the participating hospital unit within the 8 days following the birth, the birth date equals the 1st day of life.
• Still on parenteral feeding or infusion on the 5th day of birth

Non inclusion criteria

• Digestive disorders > or equal to 1b on Bell stage
• Severe intra-ventricular haemorrhage (stage 3-4) before 5th day of life.
• Severe malformations or digestive malformations
• No antenatal corticosteroid therapy
• Severe medical or surgical disorder affecting the absorption, digesting and as a result the growth (Hirschsprung disease, lactose intolerance, cow milk protein allergy, mucoviscidosis).
• Parents geographical distance preventing the hospitalization follow-up in the hospital participating unit (geographical distance planned before the infant reaches 1500 g or 32 weeks of gestational age)

Exclusion criteria

• Enteral/Oral feeding termination during more than 72 hours due to severe digestive disorders (> or equal to 2a on Bell stage )
• Serious digestive surgery