| Costalos 2003 [[39] | Indrio 2008 [[42] | Reuman 1986 [[41] | Stratiki 2007 [[40] |
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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 | Â | Â |
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 | Â | Â | Â | Â |
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 | Â | Stooling frequency | Â | Â |
Complications | NEC, Sepsis | Â | Mortality / death | NEC, Sepsis |
Intestinal permeability | Changes in Intestinal permeability | Â | Â | Changes in Intestinal permeability |
Changes in gastrointestinal microflora | cfu of bifidobacteria, lactobacillus, pathogens | Â | Â | cfu of bifidobacteria |