Although evidence for the effectiveness of lactoferrin as a preventive measure for NEC in preterm infants is still not well established, a recent systematic review and meta-analysis that included nine RCTs involving 1,34 patients showed that prophylactic lactoferrin could significantly reduce the incidence of NEC and all culture-proven late-onset sepsis in preterm infants [23]. This evidence concerns the gene LTF and necrotizing enterocolitis.