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 .
The effects of probiotics on feeding tolerance, bowel habits, and gastrointestinal motility in preterm newborns.
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with a probiotic on feeding tolerance and gastrointestinal motility in healthy formula-fed preterm infants . STUDY DESIGN Thirty preterm newborns were enrolled ; 10 were exclusively breast-fed , and the remaining 20 were r and omly assigned in a double-blind manner to receive either Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730 ( at dose of 1 x 10(8 ) colony forming units a day ) or placebo for 30 days . Clinical symptoms of gastrointestinal function ( regurgitation , vomiting , inconsolable crying , and evacuation ) and physiological variables ( gastric electrical activity and emptying ) were recorded before and after the dietary intervention . RESULTS Body weight gains per day were similar for the 3 groups , and no adverse events were recorded . Newborns receiving probiotics showed a significant decrease in regurgitation and mean daily crying time and a larger number of stools compared with those given placebo .  Gastric emptying rate was significantly increased , and fasting antral area was significantly reduced in both the newborns receiving L. reuteri and breast-fed newborns compared with placebo . CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest a useful role for L. reuteri supplementation in improving feeding tolerance and gut function in formula-fed preterm newborns
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 .