The Role of Immunonutrients in the Prevention of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Nutrients

Ping Zhou²  Yanqi Li¹  Li-Ya Ma² 

[1] Comparative Pediatrics and Nutrition, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg DK-1870, Denmark; E-Mail:;Department of Neonatology, Bao’an Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen 518133, Guangdong, China; E-Mails:

关键词: necrotizing enterocolitis;    very low birth weight infants;    prevention;    nutrients;    probiotics;   

DOI  :  10.3390/nu7095334

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a critical intestinal emergency condition, which mainly occurs in preterm very low birth weight (PVLBW) infants. Despite remarkable advances in the care of PVLBW infants, with considerable improvement of the survival rate in recent decades, the incidence of NEC and NEC-related mortality have not declined accordingly. The fast progression from nonspecific signs to extensive necrosis also makes primary prevention the first priority. Recently, increasing evidence has indicated the important role of several nutrients in primary prevention of NEC. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize some potential immunomodulatory nutrients in the prevention of NEC, including bovine colostrum, probiotics, prebiotics (e.g., human milk oligosaccharides), long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and amino acids (glutamine, cysteine and N-acetylcysteine, l-arginine and l-citrulline). Based on current research evidence, probiotics are the most documented effective method to prevent NEC, while others still require further investigation in animal studies and clinical randomized controlled trials.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.