Reduced Risk of Necrotizing Enterocolitis with Breastfeeding

Abstract Introduction: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening disease in infants that causes direct damage to the intestines and requires emergent treatment. The purpose of this clinical review is to analyze the prevention of NEC in preterm neonates with breastfeeding. Methods: PubMed was searched using a specific search strategy using the key terms “breast,” “feed,” “formula,” “necrotizing,” and “enterocolitis.” Operators and filters applied narrowed the results to 4 quality articles for review. Results: One RCT, and two meta-analyses, reviewed had a reduction in the development of necrotizing enterocolitis among breastfed neonates. One randomized noninferiority trial totaling 123 neonates did not favor breastfeeding, but the results were not statistically significant. All studies used a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) and p-values of P<0.05. Discussion: The articles reviewed in this study supported breastfeeding in reducing the development of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm neonates. The studies reviewed had several limitations. Further research is needed to replicate these results.