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Milk Protein and Probiotics Reduce Incidence of Infection in Premature Babies

In a prospective, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial involving 472 very low birth weight infants (under 1500 g), supplementation with bovine lactoferrin (100 mg/d), alone or in combination with the probiotic, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (6 x 10(9) cfu/d), was found to reduce the incidence of late-onset sepsis (both bacterial and fungal) - a common and severe complication that develops in premature neonates, particularly those with very low birth weight - when given starting at birth through day 30 of life (or day 45 for neonates < 1000 g at birth). The incidence for late-onset sepsis was 4.6% for subjects receiving lactoferrin plus probiotics (RR=0.27), 5.9% for subjects receiving lactoferrin alone (RR=0.34), as compared to 17.3% for subjects receiving a placebo. These results suggest that very low birth weight neonates may benefit from supplementation with lactoferrin and probiotics.
 
Reference:
“Bovine lactoferrin supplementation for prevention of late-onset sepsis in very low-birth-weight neonates: a randomized trial,” Manzoni P, Rinaldi M, et al, JAMA, 2009; 302(13): 1421-8.
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Contributor Since:
June 19, 2008
Derrick DeSilva Jr., M.D.
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Dr. Derrick DeSilva is on the Attending Staff at the Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, N.J., and on the teaching faculty at JFK Medical Center in Edison, N.J.

He has lectured on various topics in medicine --nationally and internationally-- and has his own talk show called Ask the Doctor which airs on WCTC in New Jersey (1450 AM) as well as his own television show, "To Your ...