Analysis of the Effect of Phototherapy on Intestinal Probiotics and Its Metabolism in Newborns With Jaundice

Abstract

Background: Both long-term and short-term side effects of phototherapy are being increasingly recognized by clinicians. The purpose of this article is to study the changes of intestinal probiotics and their metabolic indexes in newborns with jaundice receiving phototherapy. Method: Intestinal flora and metabolic changes in newborns were studied through macrogene sequencing and metabonomics. Results: We found that Bifidobacterium is the main probiotic strain present in the newborn intestinal tract, along with a small amount of Lactobacillus. Both Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus decreased significantly (p<0.05) in neonatal intestinal flora after phototherapy for 24 hours and 48 hours. A correlation analysis between changed probiotics and intestinal short-chain fatty acid metabolites after phototherapy showed that acetic acid, butyric acid, caproic acid, and propionic acid decreased; these metabolites were significantly correlated with Bifidobacterium (p<0.05). After phototherapy, non-targeted metabolites also changed significantly (p<0.05) and were correlated with many probiotics (p<0.05). Significantly changed probiotics demonstrated a significant correlation with some intestinal non-targeted metabolites (p<0.05).Conclusion: Phototherapy can significantly affect the intestinal probiotic flora and its metabolic indicators in newborns with jaundice, which may contribute to phototherapy side effects. These findings also provide a theoretical basis for administering suitable probiotics to newborns with jaundice.