Objective: 

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a medical condition, primarily seen in premature infants, in that portions of the bowel undergo necrosis. Premature birth and intestinal immaturity are the most important risk factors. The beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli are called probiotics. Kefir is a fermented dairy product containing various probiotics like Lactobacillus spp. (80% Lactobacillus kefiri) and yeast (Candida kefyr and Saccaromyces cerevisiae). The effects of probiotics were studied in clinical trials and animal models of NEC. The aim of the study was to test the effects of Kefir in the animal model of NEC.

Methods: 

Neonatal Sprague Dawley rats (n=24) were randomly assigned to three groups. Group 1 (n=10); Kefir (0,02ml) + Premature formula (0,18ml) (orogastric feeding 4 times/day), Group 2 (n=7); Premature formula (0,2ml) (orogastric feeding 4 times/day), Group 3(n=7); Breast feeding (Control group). Experimental NEC was constituted by "hypoxia-ischemia-cold damage model", keeping animals in chamber 2 times/day for 10 minutes 100% CO2, 5 minutes 100% O2 and 5 minutes +4 oC. Duodenal and jejunal tissues were used for further analysis. After total protein isolation, total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) assays were performed using commercially available kits (Rel Assay). Statistical differences between three groups were evaluated by using one way ANOVA.

Results: 

There was no statistically significant difference between three groups (p>0.05).

Conclusions: 

According to the results of the present study, oxidant or antioxidant status did not change significantly by Kefir administration. NEC is known to damage ileal tissue primarily. However, we had a limitation that we could not use ileal tissue samples because we preserved them for HIF1a mRNA analysis.