HBEGF and necrotizing enterocolitis: In a systematic review enrolling 285 preterm infants, it was found that arginine supplementation significantly reduced the risk of developing NEC compared to the placebo group (RR 0.38; 95% CI 0.23–0.64).75 From this insight, a beneficial effect on intestinal microcirculation and a reduction in NEC severity have been observed in animal models with the use of other agents such as heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), sodium nitrate, sildenafil, and nicotinamide riboside.76–78