Effectiveness of Probiotics in Treating Jaundice in Preterm Low Birth Weight Infants

Background: Neonatal jaundice is a common condition in low birth weight (LBW) infants (birth weight <۲۵۰۰ g) that, if left untreated, may lead to severe complications such as kernicterus. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the probiotic Pedilact as an adjunctive therapy to phototherapy in reducing serum bilirubin levels and the duration of phototherapy in preterm LBW infants with jaundice.Methods: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, ۷۲ preterm LBW infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, with clinical jaundice were randomly assigned into two equal groups. The intervention group (n=۳۶) received ۵ drops (approximately ۰.۲۵ mL) of Pedilact daily for three consecutive days alongside standard phototherapy, while the control group (n=۳۶) received ۵ drops of distilled water as placebo. Serum bilirubin levels were measured at ۲۴, ۴۸, and ۷۲ hours post-treatment initiation.Results: The percentage of infants with bilirubin <۱۰ mg/dL in the probiotic group at ۲۴, ۴۸, and ۷۲ hours was ۴۴.۴%, ۶۹.۴%, and ۷۵%, respectively, compared to ۲۵%, ۲۲.۲%, and ۱۶.۷% in the control group. Mean bilirubin levels were also significantly lower in the probiotic group at all time points (P<۰.۰۰۱ for all comparisons). The duration of phototherapy was significantly shorter in the probiotic group (۳.۸۷ ± ۰.۵۰ days) compared to the control group (۴.۳۲ ± ۱.۱۰ days; P=۰.۰۴۹).Conclusion: Pedilact probiotic supplementation as an adjunct to phototherapy significantly accelerates bilirubin reduction in preterm LBW infants with neonatal jaundice, potentially reducing phototherapy duration and hospital stay. These findings support the use of probiotics as a safe and effective complementary treatment in managing neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

کلیدواژه ها:

Low birth weight ، Neonatal Jaundice ، Phototherapy ، Preterm ، Probiotics