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 .
Probiotic Bacteria in the Management of Atopic Disease: Underscoring the Importance of Viability
Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of oral supplementation of viable and heat-inactivated probiotic bacteria in the management of atopic disease and to observe their effects on the composition of the gut microbiota . Methods The study population included 35 infants with atopic eczema and allergy to cow 's milk . At a mean age of 5.5 months , they were assigned in a r and omized double-blind manner to receive either extensively hydrolyzed whey formula ( placebo group ) or the same formula supplemented with viable ( viable LGG group ) or heat-inactivated Lactobacillus GG ( heat-inactivated LGG group ) , respectively . The changes in symptoms were assessed by the SCORAD method and the presence of some predominant bacterial genera in the feces detected with 16S rRNA-specific probes . Results The treatment with heat-inactivated LGG was associated with adverse gastrointestinal symptoms and diarrhea . Consequently , the recruitment of patients was stopped after the pilot phase . Within the study population , atopic eczema and subjective symptoms were significantly alleviated in all the groups ; the SCORAD scores ( interquartile range ) decreased from 13 ( range , 4–29 ) to 8 ( range , 0–29 ) units in the placebo group , from 19 ( range , 4–47 ) to 5 ( range , 0–18 ) units in the viable LGG group , and from 15 ( range , 0–29 ) to 7 ( range , 0–26 ) units in the heat-inactivated LGG group . The decrease in the SCORAD scores within the viable LGG group tended to be greater than within the placebo group . The treatments did not appear to affect the bacterial numbers within the genera enumerated . Conclusions Supplementation of infant formulas with viable but not heat-inactivated LGG is a potential approach for the management of atopic eczema and cow 's milk allergy
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 .