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News
Two new European studies show a multistrain probiotic formula slashes the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) — a life-threatening gut disease — in preterm infants. The Swedish study found a 72% lower risk of death and/or NEC, while the Dutch study found a 51% reduction in NEC incidence. Meanwhile, US probiotic use in NICUs remains low following an FDA warning, leaving many premature babies without access to a potentially life-saving intervention.
Two new European studies published in JAMA Network Open are adding significant weight to the case for routine probiotic use in premature infants. Both studies evaluated the same three-strain formula — containing Bifidobacterium infantis Bb-02, Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12, and Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4 — and found meaningful reductions in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a severe and often fatal gut disease common in preterm babies.
The Swedish study, drawing on data from 38 NICUs and nearly 4,700 infants, found that probiotic supplementation was associated with a 72% lower risk of death and/or NEC, with no increased risk of sepsis. The Dutch study, covering two NICUs and over 1,400 infants, found a 51% reduction in NEC incidence after routine probiotic implementation — though all-cause mortality remained unchanged.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: While Europe has moved toward national recommendations and widespread NICU adoption, the US remains far behind due to FDA regulatory constraints and a 2023 safety warning. Experts say the growing evidence should prompt a more evidence-based approach — and families of preterm infants deserve to know these options exist.
