Therapeutic effects of synbiotic on neonates with gestational age over 34 weeks admitted for jaundice

BACKGROUND: Hyperbilirubinemia is a common problem in neonates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of synbiotic in addition to routine phototherapy on the treatment of neonatal jaundice. METHOD: This double-blind clinical trial, was performed on 194, 3-14 days old neonates. Neonates were divided into intervention and placebo groups. The intervention group received 5 drops of oral synbiotic daily along with phototherapy and the placebo group underwent phototherapy plus a placebo. Gestational age, age, weight, sex, initial and daily bilirubin level, frequency of defecation, mode of delivery, and length of hospitalization were assessed. RESULTS: The rate of bilirubin reduction on the first day of admission was significantly higher in the intervention group (2.9 +/- 1.81 vs. 2.06 +/- 1.93, p = 0.002). The mean level of bilirubin on the second (9.8 +/- 1.92 vs. 10.88 +/- 2.26) and third days (8.06 +/- 1.54 vs. 9.86 +/- 1.7) was lower in the intervention group (p = 0.001). The proportion of discharged patients in the third and fourth days was higher in the intervention group compared to the control (65% vs. 41%, 99% vs. 86.5%, respectively, p = 0.001). However, the duration of hospitalization was shorter in the intervention group compared to the control (2.36 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.74 +/- 0.74, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Based on our results, daily treatment with 5 drops of synbiotic along with phototherapy can be a safe and effective modality in faster bilirubin reduction, decreasing the hospitalization period and phototherapy. Therefore, it seems that it can be used as an adjunct therapy for neonates with jaundice.