SynthesisBMC pediatrics2025
Effect of probiotics on necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in BMC pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed.
- Probiotics and Risk of Death, Necrotizing Enterocolitis, and Sepsis in Very Preterm Infants.JAMA network open · 2026Article
- Safety and Effectiveness of Probiotic Preparations: A Contemporary Review.Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Probiotic Implementation and Necrotizing Enterocolitis Risk in Preterm Infants.JAMA network open · 2026Article
- The gut-lung axis in early life: microbiome-associated mechanisms and clinical relevance.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2026Review
- Protecting Newborns from Multidrug-Resistant Infections: The Emerging Role of Bacteriophages.Viruses · 2026Review
- Necrotizing enterocolitis.Nature reviews. Disease primers · 2026Review
- Synergistic regulation of gut microbiota and metabolites by breast milk and probiotics in the prevention of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: mechanisms and prospects.Translational pediatrics · 2026Review
- Global perspectives on probiotic use to reduce NEC.Pediatric research · 2026Article
- A Review of Probiotic Interventions for Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Sepsis in Preterm Infants.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Evaluating the effect of probiotics on severe necrotising enterocolitis in preterm infants born before 32 weeks gestation in England and Wales: a propensity-matched population study.The Lancet regional health. Europe · 2026Article
- Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants: An Inflammatory Condition at the Crossroads of Intestinal Immaturity, Dysbiosis, and Nutrition.International journal of pediatrics · 2026Review
- Early supplementation with live combinedFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026Observational
- Necrotizing Enterocolitis: What's New and What's Next?International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPrevious studies have suggested that probiotics may have potential benefits for preterm infants. Their efficacy seems to depend on the particular species or combinations used.
methodsTo further investigate the effects of probiotics in preventing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and other related outcomes in preterm infants, we conducted a network meta-analysis of 51 randomized controlled trials involving 11,661 participants.
resultsOur study revealed that most probiotics can effectively reduce the incidence of NEC (at or beyond Bell's stage II). Lactobacillus (RR, 0.59; 95% CI: 0.29, 0.98), the combination of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus (RR, 0.47; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.87), and the combination of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Streptococcus (RR, 0.17; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.84) were the only treatments that significantly reduced all-cause mortality compared to placebo. Lactobacillus can be effective in reducing the time preterm infants spend in the hospital (MD, -4.23; 95% CI: -7.62, -0.81) and reaching full enteral feeding (MD, -2.15; 95% CI: -3.70, -0.64).
conclusionsThe combination of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Enterococcus was the most efficacious in reducing the mortality and incidence of NEC (Bell II or above) in preterm infants. Both prebiotics and Lactobacillus alone were found to be highly effective in reducing the length of hospitalization and the time needed to achieve full enteral feeding. No evidence suggests that probiotics affect sepsis risk.
trial registrationThe study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023460231) on March 10, 2023.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.