 Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis NEC is the most common acquired disease of the gastrointestinal tract in preterm very low birth weight infants and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Prophylactic enteral probiotic supplementation may play a role in reducing NEC and potentially provide benefits to preterm very low birth weight neonates. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of orally administered probiotics in preventing necrotizing enterocolitis NEC in preterm very low birth weight VLBW infants. 