Effect of Bovine Colostrum on T-Regulatory Cells, Prevention of Late Onset Sepsis and Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Neonates

Abstract

ate onset sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis are major cause of mortality and morbidity in preterm neonates mainly due to immaturity of their innate and adaptive immune system. Bovine Colostrum is the first milk that mammals produce after parturition, it contains antimicrobials such as lactoferrin and lactoperoxidases, immunological and growth factors. Our study aimed to asses effect of oral bovine colostrum in prevention of late onset sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis when used as gut priming in premature neonates as long as neonate can tolerate oral intake. Our study was conducted on 80 premature neonates below 34 weeks gestational age, Mean gestational age was 32 weeks, admitted at Ain shams university NICUs. The enrolled patients were subdivided into two groups, Interventional group (bovine colostrum) are infants received bovine colostrum-concentrate as gut priming and Non interventional group (non-bovine colostrum group): which is formed of two groups, Infant formula are infants received formula milk and standard care group are infants received breast milk (donor or own mother milk) whenever available with artificial formula.