Iranian Journal of Neonatology

Iranian Journal of Neonatology

Effectiveness of Probiotics in Treating Jaundice in Preterm Low Birth Weight Infants

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Fatemeh Javadi 1
Ahmad Shah Farhat 1
Ashraf Mohammadzadeh 1
Ezzat Khodashenas 1
Elham Bakhtiari 2
Mohammad Kordkatouli 3
1 Neonatal Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2 Clinical Research Development Unit, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
3 Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, TeMS.C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.22038/ijn.2026.92574.2801
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 preterm LBW infants with jaundice.
Methods: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 72 preterm 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 (approximately 0.25 mL) of Pedilact daily for three consecutive days alongside standard phototherapy, while the control group (n=36) received 5 drops of distilled water as placebo. Serum bilirubin levels were measured at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-treatment initiation.
Results: The percentage of infants with bilirubin <10 mg/dL in the probiotic group at 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<0.001 for all comparisons). The duration of phototherapy was significantly shorter in the probiotic group (3.87 ± 0.50 days) compared to the control group (4.32 ± 1.10 days; P=0.049).
Conclusion: Pedilact probiotic supplementation as an adjunct to phototherapy significantly accelerates bilirubin reduction in preterm 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.
Keywords
Low birth weight
Neonatal jaundice
Phototherapy
Preterm
Probiotics
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Iranian Journal of Neonatology
Volume 17, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 3-8