Efficacy of <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> Supplementation Combined with Phototherapy for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NH), which commonly presents as jaundice, affects approximately 60% of term infants and up to 80% of preterm infants within the first week of life. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> (<i>C. butyricum</i...

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Main Authors: Eun-Jin Kim, Ho-Yeon Go, Hyun-Kyung Sung
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1441
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author Eun-Jin Kim
Ho-Yeon Go
Hyun-Kyung Sung
author_facet Eun-Jin Kim
Ho-Yeon Go
Hyun-Kyung Sung
author_sort Eun-Jin Kim
collection DOAJ
description Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NH), which commonly presents as jaundice, affects approximately 60% of term infants and up to 80% of preterm infants within the first week of life. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> (<i>C. butyricum</i>) supplementation combined with phototherapy versus phototherapy alone for the treatment of NH. A systematic search of 11 databases (English, Chinese, and Korean) was conducted from 18 April 2025. Eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compared <i>C. butyricum</i> plus phototherapy with phototherapy alone. Meta-analyses were performed using the mean difference (MD), standardized mean difference (SMD), and risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CIs). Evidence quality was evaluated using the GRADE approach. This review included 20 RCTs of 1054 neonates. Compared to phototherapy alone, <i>C. butyricum</i> supplementation significantly reduced total bilirubin (SMD = −1.54, 95% CI: −2.21 to −0.86), indirect bilirubin (SMD = −2.03, 95% CI: −2.98 to −1.07), and time to jaundice resolution (MD = −1.20 days, 95% CI: −1.66 to −0.75), and was associated with fewer adverse events (RR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.55) (all <i>p</i> < 0.0001). These findings suggest that <i>C. butyricum</i> may have potential as a supportive adjunct therapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. However, further studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety. The protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251031376).
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spelling doaj-art-2cff008731cc4fcf8ff23efd63cc3a102025-08-20T03:58:31ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-06-01137144110.3390/microorganisms13071441Efficacy of <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> Supplementation Combined with Phototherapy for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisEun-Jin Kim0Ho-Yeon Go1Hyun-Kyung Sung2Department of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine, Korean Medicine Hospital, Dongguk University Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam-si 13601, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Korean Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Semyung University, Jecheon-si 27136, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Education, College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju-si 38066, Republic of KoreaNeonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NH), which commonly presents as jaundice, affects approximately 60% of term infants and up to 80% of preterm infants within the first week of life. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> (<i>C. butyricum</i>) supplementation combined with phototherapy versus phototherapy alone for the treatment of NH. A systematic search of 11 databases (English, Chinese, and Korean) was conducted from 18 April 2025. Eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compared <i>C. butyricum</i> plus phototherapy with phototherapy alone. Meta-analyses were performed using the mean difference (MD), standardized mean difference (SMD), and risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CIs). Evidence quality was evaluated using the GRADE approach. This review included 20 RCTs of 1054 neonates. Compared to phototherapy alone, <i>C. butyricum</i> supplementation significantly reduced total bilirubin (SMD = −1.54, 95% CI: −2.21 to −0.86), indirect bilirubin (SMD = −2.03, 95% CI: −2.98 to −1.07), and time to jaundice resolution (MD = −1.20 days, 95% CI: −1.66 to −0.75), and was associated with fewer adverse events (RR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.55) (all <i>p</i> < 0.0001). These findings suggest that <i>C. butyricum</i> may have potential as a supportive adjunct therapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. However, further studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety. The protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251031376).https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1441<i>Clostridium butyricum</i>probioticsphototherapyneonatal hyperbilirubinemia
spellingShingle Eun-Jin Kim
Ho-Yeon Go
Hyun-Kyung Sung
Efficacy of <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> Supplementation Combined with Phototherapy for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Microorganisms
<i>Clostridium butyricum</i>
probiotics
phototherapy
neonatal hyperbilirubinemia
title Efficacy of <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> Supplementation Combined with Phototherapy for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_full Efficacy of <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> Supplementation Combined with Phototherapy for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_fullStr Efficacy of <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> Supplementation Combined with Phototherapy for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy of <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> Supplementation Combined with Phototherapy for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_short Efficacy of <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> Supplementation Combined with Phototherapy for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_sort efficacy of i clostridium butyricum i supplementation combined with phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia a systematic review and meta analysis
topic <i>Clostridium butyricum</i>
probiotics
phototherapy
neonatal hyperbilirubinemia
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1441
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