Bovine lactoferrin and fecal calprotectin in premature infants. ID 199.

Background: The tendency of premature infants to develop an excessive inflammation in the intestines can lead to morbidities such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or sepsis. Lactoferrin theoretically can downregulate the intestinal inflammatory status of preterm newborns. In a randomized study, we investigated the effect of enteral bovine lactoferrin (bLF) supplementation on fecal calprotectin (FC) levels in premature infants.

Methods: The study included 26 preterm neonates with a gestational age of ≤ 32 weeks and a birthweight of ≤1500 g. All babies were aged less than 72 h and tolerating minimal enteral feeds. Eleven infants were receiving bLF at a dose of 100 mg/day with enteral feeds until postmenstrual age (PMA) of 36 weeks (lactoferrin group), 15 infants were receiving standard medical care (control group). Stool samples were collected twice: during the first 7 days of life (before administration of bLF) and at PMA of 36 weeks. FC measurements were done with an ELISA method.

Results: The baseline characteristics of the groups were not different. The initial median (IQR) FC level was lower in the lactoferrin group, but the difference was not statistically significant (264.9 (211.0–689.4) vs. 413.5 (274.2–800.0) μg/g, respectively, p > 0.05). At PMA of 36 weeks, FC concentrations increased in the lactoferrin group (p > 0.05) but were not different as compared to the control group (631.1 (232.0–800.0) vs 274.7 (144.8-599.6) μg/g, respectively, p > 0.05). Initial FC concentrations were higher in infants with early-onset sepsis (EOS) (rS = 0.44; p < 0.05) but did not correlate with the incidence of NEC or late-onset sepsis (LOS). FC levels were not significantly different in patients with NEC or LOS compared to infants without these morbidities, both initially and at PMA of 36 weeks. Supplementation with bLF did not affect the incidence of either NEC or sepsis.

Conclusions: Daily enteral intake bLF at a dose of 100 mg until PMA of 36 weeks was associated with the increase of FC levels but this effect was not statistically significant. FC levels during the first week of life do not predict the development of NEC or LOS but might be an additional tool for diagnosing EOS.