The Role of Human Milk in Decreasing Necrotizing Enterocolitis Through Modulation of the Infant Gut Microbiome: A Scoping Review

Background Necrotizing enterocolitis is associated with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality in premature infants. Human milk minimizes necrotizing enterocolitis risk, although the mechanism of protection is not thoroughly understood. Increasingly, dysbiosis of the infant gut microbiome, which is affected by infant diet, is hypothesized to play a role in necrotizing enterocolitis pathophysiology. Research aim The aim of this scoping review was to summarize the state of the science regarding the hypothesis that the gut microbiome composition is a mediator of the relationship between human milk and decreased incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis within a sample of human infants. Methods Electronic databases and reference lists were searched for peer-reviewed primary research articles addressing the link between human milk, gut microbiome composition, and subsequent incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis among human infants. Results A total of four studies met criteria for inclusion in this review. Of these, evidence supporting the link between human milk, gut microbiome composition, and necrotizing enterocolitis was found in two (50%) studies. Conclusion Some evidence linking all three variables is provided in this review. Given the small number of available studies, and the limitations of those studies, more research is urgently needed to thoroughly understand the protection against necrotizing enterocolitis gained through the provision of human milk.