Effect of Probiotics in Prevention of Neonatal Jaundice

Jaundice is the most common problem among neonates. Although neonatal jaundice is highly prevalent in Iran and the prevention and treatment of this disease is incredibly important, few studies have been conducted on the effect of probiotics in the prevention of hyperbilirubinemia in Iran so far. Considering the contradictory results in this regard, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of probiotics in preventing jaundice among neonates.

The statistical population of this three-blinded clinical trial on the first of January 2021 consisted of 196 neonates who were divided into two groups of placebo and intervention. The neonates with a gestational age of more than 37 weeks, birth weight of more than 2,500 grams, and without risk factors for jaundice were included in the study after that the research objectives and procedures were explained to their parents and their informed consent was obtained. Patients were randomly divided into the intervention and placebo groups. The intervention group underwent treatment with probiotics (1010 Saccharomyces boulardii daily for 5 days), while the other group received treatment with a placebo. The level of bilirubin was measured with a skin bilirubin meter and, if necessary (i.e., bilirubin more than 15), a blood test was administered before the intervention and on the third and fifth days after the intervention. The effect of probiotics on jaundice was compared in the two groups.

Based on the study results, the level of forehead and chest bilirubin was not significantly different between the study groups before the intervention and 3 and 5 days after the intervention (P> 0.05). In cases that skin bilirubin levels were higher than 15 on the fifth day ,the mean serum bilirubin level was obtained at 15.71±0.99 mg/dl and 17.42±1.17 mg/dl in the intervention and placebo group, respectively, which was statistically significant (P = 0.03).

 The results of this study showed that the use of Saccharomyces boulardi decreased the level of serum bilirubin (P=0.03).