The present invention relates to a method for treating or preventing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in a human neonate in need thereof, comprising administering to the neonate a pharmaceutically effective amount of a composition comprising a poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase/polymerase (PARP) inhibitor. Also contemplated herein is an infant food or treatment composition comprising a PARP inhibitor in an amount that is 5 to 500 times greater than a daily recommended intake dosage for the PARP inhibitor.
