@article{3109592,
    title = "Oral L-arginine supplementation and faecal calprotectin levels in very low birth weight neonates",
    author = "Polycarpou, E. and Zachaki, S. and Papaevangelou, V. and Tsolia, M. and Kyriacou, A. and Kostalos, C. and Kafetzis, D.",
    journal = "Journal of Perinatology",
    year = "2013",
    volume = "33",
    number = "2",
    pages = "141-146",
    issn = "0743-8346, 1476-5543",
    doi = "10.1038/jp.2012.51",
    keywords = "arginine;  calgranulin;  placebo, article;  controlled study;  double blind procedure;  enteritis;  enzyme linked immunosorbent assay;  feces analysis;  feces level;  gestational age;  human;  major clinical study;  morbidity;  mortality;  newborn;  supplementation;  very low birth weight, Administration, Oral;  Arginine;  Biological Markers;  Dietary Supplements;  Dose-Response Relationship, Drug;  Double-Blind Method;  Drug Administration Schedule;  Enterocolitis, Necrotizing;  Feces;  Female;  Follow-Up Studies;  Humans;  Infant, Newborn;  Infant, Very Low Birth Weight;  Intensive Care Units, Neonatal;  Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex;  Male;  Nitric Oxide;  Prospective Studies;  Reference Values;  Sensitivity and Specificity;  Treatment Outcome",
    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. © 2013 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved."
}