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Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG as a probiotic for preterm infants: a strain specific systematic review and meta-analysis

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is a widely used and extensively researched probiotic. Probiotic effects are considered to be strain specific. We aimed to comprehensively assess the strain-specific effects of LGG in preterm infants. A systematic review of RCTs and non-RCTs to evaluate the effect of LGG in preterm infants. We followed the Cochrane methodology, and preferred reporting items for systematic reviews (PRISMA) statement for conducting and reporting this review. We searched the Cochrane central register of controlled trials, PubMed, EMBASE and CINAHL databases till December 2023. The review was registered in PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022324933. Meta-analysis of data from RCTs that used LGG as the sole probiotic showed significantly lower risk of NEC ≥Stage II [5 RCTs, n = 851, RR:0.50 (95% CI: 0.26, 0.93), P = 0.03] in the LGG group. There was no significant difference in the risk of LOS [7 RCTs, n = 1037, RR:1.08 (95% CI 0.84, 1.39), P = 0.55], mortality [3 RCTs, n = 207, RR: 0.99 (95% CI: 0.42, 2.33), P = 0.99], time to reach full feeds [2 RCTs, n = 19, SMD = 0.11 days (95% CI: −0.22, 0.45), P = 0.51] and duration of hospital stay [3 RCTs, n = 293, SMD: −0.14 days (95% CI: −0.37 to 0.09), P = 0.23]. Meta-analysis of data from non-RCTs showed no significant effect of LGG on NEC, LOS, and mortality. RCTs showed beneficial effects of LGG when used as the sole probiotic in reducing the risk of NEC, whereas observational studies did not. Strain-specific systematic review of LGG provides important data for guiding research and clinical practice.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2: Forest plots of definite NEC, late-onset sepsis, mortality: single strain LGG vs control of RCTs.
Fig. 3: Forest plots of time to reach full feeds and duration of hospital stay: single strain LGG vs control of RCTs.
Fig. 4: Baujat plot investigating the source of heterogeneity for late-onset sepsis.
Fig. 5

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Data availability

Data reviewed and analysed during this meta-analysis is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, Seth GS Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India

    Anitha Ananthan

  2. Department of Neonatology, Surya Mother and Child Care Hospital, Mumbai, India

    Haribalakrishna Balasubramanian

  3. Department of Neonatology, Joondalup Health Campus, Perth, WA, Australia

    Chandra Rath, Saravanan Muthusamy & Shripada Rao

  4. School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia

    Shripada Rao & Sanjay Patole

  5. Neonatal Directorate, King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, Perth, WA, Australia

    Sanjay Patole

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Contributions

AA: drafted the manuscript with input from HB, SR, SP and other co-authors and is responsible for the final content; AA, HB, CR, and SM: wrote the statistical analysis plan; AA, HB, CR, SM, SR and SP: reviewed, contributed to, and approved the statistical analysis plan; AA and HB compiled the data; AA: conducted the data analysis; and all authors: read, contributed to, and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Anitha Ananthan.

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Ananthan, A., Balasubramanian, H., Rath, C. et al. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG as a probiotic for preterm infants: a strain specific systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Nutr (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-024-01474-0

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