When babies are born very small and early, they face serious risks like sepsis (a severe infection) and necrotising enterocolitis (a dangerous intestinal condition). Doctors often look for ways to protect these fragile infants during their first weeks of life. This study looked at whether a specific probiotic called Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG could provide that extra layer of protection.
The researchers followed 236 very low birth weight infants who were fed through a tube. They compared those who received the LGG probiotic with those who only received breast milk. The goal was to see if the probiotic would lower the rates of infection, intestinal issues, or death, and help babies reach milestones like full feeding and gaining weight faster.
The results showed no significant difference between the two groups. Infants receiving the probiotic had a 30.4% rate of complications compared to 32.7% in the group without it. There were also no measurable differences in how long infants stayed in the hospital, how long they needed breathing machines, or how quickly they gained weight. Because this was an open-label study, the results are currently limited in scope.
