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Oral L-arginine supplementation and faecal calprotectin levels in very low birth weight neonates

Journal of Perinatology volume 33, pages 141–146 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

The objective of this study is to determine the potential effect of oral L-arginine supplementation on intestinal inflammation in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates, as estimated by faecal calprotectin levels.

Study Design:

The study enrolled 83 VLBW neonates with birth weight ⩽1500 g and gestational age ⩽34 weeks. In this double-blind study, 40 neonates received daily oral L-arginine supplementation of 1.5 mmol kg−1 per day between the 3rd and 28th day of life, and 43 neonates placebo. Stool samples were collected on days 3, 14 and 28, and calprotectin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Result:

Calprotectin values significantly decreased over time in both groups (P=0.032). No difference in faecal calprotectin values was recorded between neonates receiving arginine supplementation and neonates receiving placebo at days 3, 14 and 28.

Conclusion:

Faecal calprotectin values decrease with increasing postnatal age in VLBW infants, but this is not related to arginine supplementation.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the parents for their willingness to participate in this research study and all the nurses of the Neonatal Unit of ‘Alexandra’ Hospital for their help with the study. Further, we acknowledge EM Delicha for statistical analysis and NP Polycarpou for the evaluation of X-rays. This work is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov with Unique Protocol ID: ALEXANDRA 9159.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, ‘Alexandra’ Hospital, Athens, Greece

    E Polycarpou & C Kostalos

  2. Health Physics and Environmental Health Laboratory, NCSR ‘Demokritos’, Athens, Greece

    S Zachaki

  3. Department of Medical Genetics, Athens University, St Sophia's Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece

    S Zachaki

  4. Second Department of Paediatrics, Athens University, Children's Hospital ‘Aglaia Kyriakou’, Athens, Greece

    V Papaevangelou, M Tsolia & D Kafetzis

  5. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopion University, Athens, Greece

    A Kyriacou

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  1. E Polycarpou
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Correspondence to E Polycarpou.

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Polycarpou, E., Zachaki, S., Papaevangelou, V. et al. Oral L-arginine supplementation and faecal calprotectin levels in very low birth weight neonates. J Perinatol 33, 141–146 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.51

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.51

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