Effectiveness of Probiotics in Treating Jaundice in Low Birth Weight Infants at Imam Reza Hospital

Abstract

Background: Neonatal jaundice is a common condition in low birth weight (LBW) infants (birth weight < 2500 g) that, if left untreated, may lead to severe complications such as kernicterus. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the probiotic Pedilact as an adjunctive therapy to phototherapy in reducing serum bilirubin levels and the duration of phototherapy in LBW infants with jaundice. Methods: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 72 LBW infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, with clinical jaundice were randomly assigned into two equal groups. The intervention group (n = 36) received 5 drops of Pedilact daily for three consecutive days alongside standard phototherapy, while the control group (n = 36) received 5 drops of distilled water as a placebo. Serum bilirubin levels were measured at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-treatment initiation. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests and chi-square tests. Results: The percentage of infants with bilirubin < 10 mg/dL in the probiotic group at 12 to 24, 48, and 72 hours was 44.4%, 69.4%, and 75%, respectively, compared to 25%, 22.2%, and 16.7% in the control group. Mean bilirubin levels were also significantly lower in the probiotic group at all time points (P < 0.0001 for all comparisons). Conclusions: Pedilact probiotic supplementation as an adjunct to phototherapy significantly accelerates bilirubin reduction in LBW infants with neonatal jaundice, potentially reducing phototherapy duration and hospital stay. These findings support the use of probiotics as a safe and effective complementary treatment in managing neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.