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 effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG supplemented enteral feeding on the microbiotic flora of preterm infants-double blinded randomized control trial.
BACKGROUND AND AIM Intestinal flora of preterms , dominantly presents with decreased amounts of physiological microbiota . This double blinded r and omized control trial compared the stool of bottle fed preterms , r and omized to receive lactobacillus rhamnosus GG ( LGG ) 6x109or placebo with formula feeding . STUDY DESIGN 46 enterally fed preterms were r and omized to receive probiotics or placebo within 0 - 3days after birth . All personnel were blinded to treatment assignment . Faecal sampling  was preformed at day 7 , 21 , 42 . Presence of LGG colonization , somatic growth and length of hospital stay were recorded . RESULTS 60 patients were initially identified and enrolled but after exclusion criteria were applied , 21 babies were analyzed in the probiotic group and 26 in the placebo group . The number of lactobacillus were significantly higher ( p=0.014 ) on day 7 , and 21 ( p=0.024 ) in the study group , and so was the number of enterobacteriaceae on all study days ( p=0.004 , p=0.000 , p=0.000 ) , and Enterococcus sp on day 21 ( p=0.000 ) . The amount of sample s positive for staphylococci was significantly higher in the study group , on days 7 and 42 ( p=0.001 and 0.011 ) . We did not show a significant difference in weight gain upon discharge between the groups p=0.567 , 95 % CI ( -168 ; 305 ) or mean of hospital stay p=0.421 95 % CI ( -13.43;5.71 ) . CONCLUSIONS A preterm infant formula with an addition of probiotics leads to a rapid growth of LGG in the gut of bottle fed infants , but does not decrease the amount of pathogenic organisms , nor increase weight gain during enteral feeding , or decrease length of hospital stay
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 .