In preterm newborns who are exclusively bottle-fed, treatment with the probiotic organism Lactobacillus reuteri improves gut function.
Probiotics are micro-organisms that help maintain the natural balance of healthy organisms, the "good" bacteria, in the digestive tract. Some doctors suggest that their use for preterm infants should be "routine."
Infants receiving L. reuteri, like infants fed breast milk, have significant decreases in the number of episodes of spitting up and in the average daily crying time. Digestion is also significantly faster among preterm newborns receiving L. reuteri.