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 .
Effects of Long-term Consumption of a Fermented Infant Formula (with Bifidobacterium breve c50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065) on Acute Diarrhea in Healthy Infants
Objective : To determine whether long-term consumption of a fermented infant formula could influence the incidence of  acute diarrhea  and its severity in healthy infants . Method : Nine hundred seventy-one infants , ranging in age from 4 to 6 months , were included in a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial during a period of 5 months . They consumed daily either a fermented infant formula ( FF ) ( fermentation with Bifidobacterium breve C50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065 ) or a st and ard infant formula ( SF ) of the same nutritional composition . Evaluation Criteria : Number and duration of acute diarrhea episodes were evaluated . Severity of the episodes was determined by the number of hospital admissions , incidence of dehydration , number of medical consultations , number of oral rehydration solution prescriptions , and number of formula switches . Results : Growth of the infants and acceptability of the formulas were identical in the two groups . Incidence , duration of diarrhea episodes , and number of hospital admissions did not differ significantly between groups . Episodes were less severe in the FF ( fermented formula ) group . There were fewer cases of dehydration 2.5%versus 6.1 % ( P = 0.01 ) , fewer medical consultations ( 46%v 56.6 % , P = 0.003 ) , fewer ORS prescriptions 41.9%v 51.9 % ( P = 0.003 ) and fewer switches to other formulas ( 59.5%v 74.9 % , P = 0.0001 ) in FF infants compared to SF . Conclusion : A fermented formula may reduce the severity of acute diarrhea among healthy young infants . This outcome may be linked to the bifidogenic effects of fermentation products and their interactions with the intestinal immune system
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 .