Role of Probiotics in Preventing Preterm Births: Evaluating Effects on Premature Infants and Pregnant Women

Dilawar Singh¹, Preeti Chanalia², Praveen Kumar³, Suman Dhanda⁴

^1,2,3 Research Scholar, Department of Biochemistry, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India.

⁴ Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India.   

Abstract

Objective: To critically evaluate the role of probiotics in preventing preterm birth–associated complications and improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes in pregnant women and preterm infants.

Study Design: This review synthesizes the evidence from clinical trials, observational studies and systematic reviews for assessing probiotic use in pregnancy and premature births. The analysis focuses on probiotic strain specificity, single- versus multi-strain formulations, dosage, timing of administration and routes of delivery. Outcomes related to maternal vaginal health and neonatal morbidity were also examined.

Results: In preterm infants, probiotics demonstrated beneficial effects in reducing the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis, late-onset sepsis and feeding intolerance, although efficacy varied depending on strain composition, dose and duration of consumption. Mostly, multi-strain formulations were more beneficial as compared to single-strain preparations. In pregnant women, probiotic supplementation was associated with modulation of vaginal microbiota, reduced prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and decreased Group B Streptococcus colonization. Emerging strategies such as prenatal supplementation, vaginal seeding and microbiota transplantation have shown potential in restoring microbial balance. The key challenges of using probiotics with preterm infants and pregnant women include strain-specific responses, safety concerns in vulnerable populations, an inconsistent regulatory framework and lack of long-term outcome data.

Conclusion: This review highlights the potential of probiotics in improving maternal and neonatal health and emphasizes the need for further research to overcome current challenges and enhance their accessibility in routine healthcare.   

Keywords: Probiotics, Pregnant women, Preterm infants, Necrotizing Enterocolitis

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