Other benefits included fewer episodes of feed intolerance , better weight gain and growth velocity , decreased transition time from orogastric to breast feeds , and increased postpr and ial mesenteric flow .
There were no adverse effects of probiotic supplementation .
Probiotics reduced the time to full enteral feeds  in preterm neonates .
INTRODUCTION The optimization of enteral nutrition is a priority in preterm neonates worldwide .
Probiotics are known to improve gut maturity and function in preterm neonates .
To our knowledge , previous systematic review s have not adequately assessed the effects of probiotic supplementation on enteral nutrition in preterm neonates .
OBJECTIVE We assessed the evidence on effects of probiotics on enteral nutrition in preterm neonates .
Effect of Bifidobacterium administration on very-low-birthweight infants.
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of early administration of Bifidobacterium bifidum OLB6378 ( B. bifidum ) on accelerating enteral feeding and bacterial colonization in very-low-birthweight ( VLBW ) infants . METHODS We conducted a single-center prospect i ve pilot study . Thirty-six VLBW infants were r and omly divided into two groups : group E , wherein B. bifidum was supplemented within 48 h of birth , and group L , wherein it was supplemented more than 48 h after birth . RESULTS Group E and group L reached a total feeding volume of 100 mL/(kg/day ) after 10 [ 7 - 13 ] days and 11 [ 10 - 15 ] days , respectively ( median [ quartile ] ) . The daily bodyweight gain in group E was significantly higher ( 21.4 ± 3.2 g/day vs 18.3 ± 4.0 g/day , P < 0.02 ; 11.1 ± 1.5 g/kg/day vs 10.4 ± 1.2 g/kg/day , P < 0.04 ) . No significant differences were found in the fecal Bifidobacterium level between the groups quantitated with a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay at 1 and 4 weeks of age . However , the highest colonization rate of Bifidobacterium was observed when the supplementation started between 24 and 48 h after birth . The incidence of morbidities between the groups was similar . CONCLUSION The early administration of B. bifidum to VLBW infants seems effective in promoting growth during the stay in the neonatal intensive care unit without increasing the incidence of morbidity . Furthermore , the preferable timing of starting the probiotic supplementation for VLBW infants is at latest less than 48 h after birth
Other benefits included fewer episodes of feed intolerance , better weight gain and growth velocity , decreased transition time from orogastric to breast feeds , and increased postpr and ial mesenteric flow .
There were no adverse effects of probiotic supplementation .
Probiotics reduced the time to full enteral feeds  in preterm neonates .
INTRODUCTION The optimization of enteral nutrition is a priority in preterm neonates worldwide .
Probiotics are known to improve gut maturity and function in preterm neonates .
To our knowledge , previous systematic review s have not adequately assessed the effects of probiotic supplementation on enteral nutrition in preterm neonates .
OBJECTIVE We assessed the evidence on effects of probiotics on enteral nutrition in preterm neonates .