Effects of Probiotic Mixture Supplementation and Evaluation of Intestinal Mucosal Tolerance and Gut Microbiome in Newborns with Perinatal Asphyxia Receiving Hypothermic Treatment: A Randomized, Multicentric, Blinded, Controlled TRIAL (VISNAT)

Neonatal encephalopathy is still a major cause of mortality and morbidity for newborns, although hypothermia treatment has improved the prognosis of term newborns with hypoxic-ischemic injury. Recent evidence suggests that one of the crucial but understudied mechanisms of secondary neuronal injury after global hypoxic-ischemic injury is inflammation. Hence, blocking the inflammatory reaction promotes neuroprotection and has a potential for use in the clinical treatment of ischemic brain injury. Many preclinical studies have shown bidirectional interactions between the central nervous system, the enteric nervous system, and the gastrointestinal tract, suggesting a prominent role for the gut microbiota in these gut-brain interactions. Early human studies suggest that altering the microbiota with beneficial bacteria, or probiotics, can lead to changes in brain function, as well as subjective reports of mood.