Lactulose Supplementation in Premature Infants

NCT ID: NCT00616876

Last Updated: 2008-02-15

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

28 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2005-02-28

Study Completion Date

2007-01-31

Brief Summary

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A pilot study to test the safety of use of lactulose in preterm infants and to preliminary assess the hypothesis that lactulose would support the early growth of Lactobacilli in the stools of premature infants and possibly would also improve nutritional status and decrease NEC and late-onset sepsis.

Detailed Description

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Prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled single center pilot study in 23-34 weeks gestation premature infants. Study group will receive 1% lactulose, while control group will receive 1% dextrose placebo in all their feeds (human milk or preterm formula). Clinical parameters will be followed. Stool samples will be sent for culture.

Conditions

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Necrotizing Enterocolitis Sepsis

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators

Study Groups

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1

Study group will receive 1% lactulose in all their feeds (human milk or preterm formula)

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Lactulose

Intervention Type DRUG

Babies in the study group received lactulose in a dose of 1% in their entire mother's breast milk or preterm formula feeds (1 gram per 100 ml feeds, based on the daily volume of feeds, and evenly distributed between all the feeds for the entire duration of their hospital stay). 67% lactulose in the original preparation (Laevolac, Fresenius Kabi, Austria) was diluted by distilled water to 33.5% preparation in the pharmacy in strict sterile conditions under hood. Just before feeding the nurses added the required volume of this 33.5% lactulose solution to the ordered volume of feed to generate a final concentration of 1% lactulose in each feed.

2

Control group will receive 1% dextrose placebo in all their feeds (human milk or preterm formula).

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Dextrose

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Babies in the control groups were given equal volumes of the comparable placebo in all their preterm formula feeds at final concentration of 1% dextrose. The 33.5% dextrose placebo solution was prepared by dissolving dextrose (Dextrose Pulv. USP.24/BP, Roquette Frores 6280, Lestrem, France) in distilled water under heat to the point of near boiling under the same strict sterile conditions in the pharmacy. This gave a placebo solution that looked similar in color, odor and liquidity to the study solution of 33.5% lactulose. Dark bottles were used to further blind the medical team as to what solution was the baby given.

Interventions

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Lactulose

Babies in the study group received lactulose in a dose of 1% in their entire mother's breast milk or preterm formula feeds (1 gram per 100 ml feeds, based on the daily volume of feeds, and evenly distributed between all the feeds for the entire duration of their hospital stay). 67% lactulose in the original preparation (Laevolac, Fresenius Kabi, Austria) was diluted by distilled water to 33.5% preparation in the pharmacy in strict sterile conditions under hood. Just before feeding the nurses added the required volume of this 33.5% lactulose solution to the ordered volume of feed to generate a final concentration of 1% lactulose in each feed.

Intervention Type DRUG

Dextrose

Babies in the control groups were given equal volumes of the comparable placebo in all their preterm formula feeds at final concentration of 1% dextrose. The 33.5% dextrose placebo solution was prepared by dissolving dextrose (Dextrose Pulv. USP.24/BP, Roquette Frores 6280, Lestrem, France) in distilled water under heat to the point of near boiling under the same strict sterile conditions in the pharmacy. This gave a placebo solution that looked similar in color, odor and liquidity to the study solution of 33.5% lactulose. Dark bottles were used to further blind the medical team as to what solution was the baby given.

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Premature infants were recruited based on the following criteria:

* 23-34 weeks' gestation (as determined by a combination of maternal dates, early prenatal ultrasonography and postnatal gestational age estimation based on physical and neuromuscular signs (New Ballard Score), as long as there will be gestational age agreement between the 3 methods \< 2 weeks);
* Absence of major congenital malformations; and
* Informed consent obtained from parents.

Exclusion Criteria

* Major congenital malformations and parental refusal.
Minimum Eligible Age

23 Weeks

Maximum Eligible Age

34 Weeks

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Bnai Zion Medical Center

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Bnai Zion Medical Center

Principal Investigators

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Arieh Riskin, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Department of Neonatology, Bnai Zion Medical Center

Ron Shaoul, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Bnai Zion Medical Center

Locations

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NICU, Department of Neonatology, Bnai Zion Medical Center

Haifa, , Israel

Site Status

Countries

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Israel

References

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Other Identifiers

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LacPre18

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

BZ-23/04

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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