Effect of multi-strain bifidobacteria supplementation on intestinal microbiota development in low birth weight neonates: a randomized controlled trial.

Single-strain species are commonly used as probiotics with low birth weight neonates. However, the effectiveness and safety of multi-strain supplementation are not well known. Thirty-six neonates weighing less than 2,000 g (558-1,943 g) at birth and admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit were randomly assigned to receive a single strain or triple strains of with lactulose enterally for 4 weeks from birth. The relative abundances of and in the fecal microbiota at weeks 1, 2, and 4 were investigated. Based on the study results, no significant difference was detected between the two groups in the abundance of ; however, the triple-strain group had significantly high abundances of at weeks 2 and 4. The fecal microbiota in the triple-strain group had significantly lower alpha diversity (-enriching) after week 4 and was different from that in the single-strain group, which showed a higher abundance of No severe adverse events occurred in either group during the study period. Although no significant difference was detected between single- and multi-strain bifidobacteria supplementation in the colonization of in the fecal microbiota of the neonates, multi-strain bifidobacteria supplementation contributed toward early enrichment of the microbiota with bifidobacteria and suppression of other pathogenic bacteria, such as spp.