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Table 3 A summary of four included probiotic studies

From: Probiotics, prebiotics infant formula use in preterm or low birth weight infants: a systematic review

 

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