Objective: To determine whether probiotics supplementation affects intestinal blood flow velocity in extremely low birth weight neonates.
Study design: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, probiotics were added to the first enteral feeding and continued until discharge or 34 weeks postmenstrual age. Pulsed Doppler was used to measure preprandial and postprandial (at 30 and 60 min) time-averaged mean velocity (TAMV), peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end diastolic velocity (EDV) during the second week of life after ≥ 7 days of probiotics supplementation.
Result: A total of 31 infants were studied, 15 were randomized to the probiotic and 16 to the placebo groups. There was a significant postprandial increase in TAMV for the probiotic vs the placebo group (P=0.035), with PSV and EDV showing a trend. Demographic and clinical variables were similar between the groups.
Conclusion: Probiotics administration significantly increases postprandial intestinal blood flow in extremely low birth weight preterm neonates when compared with the placebo group.