Poor Bifidobacterial Colonization Is Associated with Late Provision of Colostrum and Improved with Probiotic Supplementation in Low Birth Weight Infants

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the association between bifidobacterial colonization in low birth weight infants and perinatal factors, including the timing of initial colostrum and the effect of probiotics on this colonization. In this non-randomized controlled trial, we enrolled 98 low-birth-weight infants from a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Japan. Infants were divided into three groups: group N (no intervention), group H (received non-live bifidobacteria), and group L (received live bifidobacteria). The number of bifidobacteria in the infants’ stools at 1 month of age was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We divided infants into “rich bifidobacteria” (≥104.8 cells/g feces) and “poor bifidobacteria” (<104.8 cells/g feces) subgroups. The ratio of “rich bifidobacteria” infants was 20/31, 34/36, and 30/30 in groups N, H, and L, respectively. In group N, the “rich bifidobacteria” group received first colostrum significantly earlier than the “poor bifidobacteria” group (1 day vs. 4 days, P < 0.05). Compared with the N group, both groups H and L had a significantly high proportion of “rich bifidobacteria” infants (P < 0.05). Bifidobacterial colonization was poor in premature infants at 1 month compared with term infants, and the level of colonization was associated with the timing of initial provision of colostrum. Providing probiotics to premature infants can improve bifidobacterial colonization.

Dynamic changes of the gut microbial colonization in preterm infants with different time points after birth

“…Conventional bacterial culture methods confirm that the gut microbiota colonization of preterm infants is significantly different from that of healthy-term neonates. Compared with healthy-term infants, probiotics such as Bifidobacteria that regulate intestinal development in preterm infants, including epithelial barrier integrity, tend to colonize the intestinal tract of preterm infants late and less frequently, takes almost 1 week before colonization begins (Tanaka et al, 2019). In the investigation of preterm infant's fecal microbiota, we found that the colonization of intestinal Bifidobacteria in preterm infants was relatively late and did not rapidly develop into the dominant microbiota.…”

Effect of Continuous Ingestion of Bifidobacteria and Dietary Fiber on Improvement in Cognitive Function: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

“…Following Tanaka et al [38], real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using genus-specific primers capable of detecting Bifidobacterium spp., including GCL2505. The primer sequences were as follows: Bifidobacterium spp.…”

Effects of the intake of non-live <i>Bifidobacterium bifidum</i> on the faecal IgA of full-term infants: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study

“…For the quantification of Bifidobacterium, a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed with Bifidobacterium genus-specific primers, as described previously [12,13]. B. bifidum OLB6378 was quantified using real-time PCR with strain-specific primers [14].…”

“…B. bifidum OLB6378 was quantified using real-time PCR with strain-specific primers [14]. For the real-time PCR assay, bacterial genomic DNA was extracted from the stool samples using a commercial extraction kit (QuickGene DNA tissue kit, Kurabo, Osaka, Japan) as described previously [12,15]. The detection limits of Bifidobacterium and B. bifidum OLB6378 were 10 4 and 10 cells/g of faeces, respectively.…”