Differences were potentially attributable to differences in infant risk , prebiotic formulation or measurement of eczema .
There is insufficient evidence to determine the role of prebiotic supplementation of infant formula for prevention of allergic disease and food hypersensitivity .
Further trials are needed to determine whether this finding persists over a longer period of time , applies to other manifestations of allergic disease , is associated with reductions in allergen sensitisation , and is reproducible
BACKGROUND The composition of the intestinal microflora may be different in individuals with atopic eczema from those without this condition , and such differences may precede the development of eczema .
Prebiotics are nondigestible food components that benefit the host by selectively stimulating the growth or activity of non-pathogenic bacteria in the colon .
Prebiotics ( commonly oligosaccharides ) added to infant feeds have the potential to prevent sensitisation of infants to dietary allergens .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of prebiotics given to infants for the prevention of allergic disease or food hypersensitivity .
Dosage-Related Bifidogenic Effects of Galacto- and Fructooligosaccharides in Formula-Fed Term Infants
Background Human milk oligosaccharides have been shown to stimulate selectively the growth of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in the intestine . In this study , the bifidogenic effect of an experimental prebiotic oligosaccharide mixture consisting of low-molecular-weight galactooligosaccharides and high-molecular-weight fructooligosaccharides was analyzed in 90 term infants . Methods Two test formulas were supplemented with either 0.4 g/dL or with 0.8 g/dL oligosaccharides . In the control formula , maltodextrin was used as placebo . At study day 1 and study day 28 , the fecal species , colony forming units ( cfu ) and pH were measured and stool characteristics , growth , and side effects were recorded . Results At study day 1 , the median number of Bifidobacteria did not differ among the groups ( 0.4 g/dL group , mean [ interquartile range ] 8.5 [ 1.9 ] cfu/g ; 0.8 g/dL group , 7.7 [ 6.1 ] cfu/g ; and the placebo group , 8.8 [ 6.1 ] cfu/g ) ( figures in square brackets are interquartile range ) . At the end of the 28-day feeding period , the number of Bifidobacteria was significantly increased for both groups receiving supplemented formulas ( the 0.4 g/dL group , 9.3 [ 4.9 ] cfu/g ; the 0.8 g/dL group , 9.7 [ 0.8 ] cfu/g ) versus the placebo group ( 7.2 [ 4.9 ] cfu/g , P < 0.001 ) . This effect was dose dependent ( 0.4 g/dL versus 0.8 g/dL , P < 0.01 ) . The number of Lactobacilli also increased significantly in both groups fed the supplemented formulas ( versus placebo , P < 0.001 ) , but there was no statistically significant difference between the group fed formula with 0.4 g/dL oligosaccharides and the group fed formula with 0.8 g/dL oligosaccharides . The dosage of supplement significantly influenced the change in fecal pH ( P < 0.05 ) ( placebo , pH 5.5–6.1 ; 0.4 g/dL formula , pH 5.48–5.44 ; 0.8 g/dL formula , pH 5.54–5.19 ) . Slight changes in the stool frequency result ed in a significant difference between the placebo group and the group fed the 0.8 g/dL formula at day 28 ( P < 0.01 ) . Supplementation had a significant dose-dependent influence on stool consistency ( 0.8 g/dL versus placebo , P < 0.0001 ; 0.8 g/dL versus 0.4 g/dL , P < 0.01 ) . Supplementation had no influence on the incidence of side effects ( crying , regurgitation , vomiting ) or growth . Conclusions These data indicate that supplementation of a term infant 's formula with a mixture of galacto- and fructooligosaccharides has a dose-dependent stimulating effect on the growth of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in the intestine and results in softer stool with increasing dosage of supplementation
Differences were potentially attributable to differences in infant risk , prebiotic formulation or measurement of eczema .
There is insufficient evidence to determine the role of prebiotic supplementation of infant formula for prevention of allergic disease and food hypersensitivity .
Further trials are needed to determine whether this finding persists over a longer period of time , applies to other manifestations of allergic disease , is associated with reductions in allergen sensitisation , and is reproducible
BACKGROUND The composition of the intestinal microflora may be different in individuals with atopic eczema from those without this condition , and such differences may precede the development of eczema .
Prebiotics are nondigestible food components that benefit the host by selectively stimulating the growth or activity of non-pathogenic bacteria in the colon .
Prebiotics ( commonly oligosaccharides ) added to infant feeds have the potential to prevent sensitisation of infants to dietary allergens .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of prebiotics given to infants for the prevention of allergic disease or food hypersensitivity .