On the basis of this review , available scientific data suggest that the administration of currently evaluated probiotic- and /or prebiotic-supplemented formula to healthy infants does not raise safety concerns with regard to growth and adverse effects .
Infant formulae are increasingly supplemented with probiotics , prebiotics , or synbiotics despite uncertainties regarding their efficacy .
The present article , developed by the Committee on Nutrition of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology , Hepatology , and Nutrition , systematic ally review s published evidence related to the safety and health effects of the administration of formulae supplemented with probiotics and /or prebiotics compared with unsupplemented formulae .
Low level of galacto-oligosaccharide in infant formula stimulates growth of intestinal Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli.
AIM To investigate the effect of a new infant formula supplemented with a low level ( 0.24 g/100 mL ) of galacto-oligosaccharide ( GOS ) on intestinal micro-flora ( Bifidobacteria , Lactobacilli and E. coli ) and fermentation characteristics in term infants , compared with human milk and a st and ard infant formula without GOS . METHODS Term infants ( n = 371 ) were approached in this study in three hospitals of China . All infants started breast-feeding . Those who changed to formula-feeding within 4 wk after birth were r and omly assigned to one of the two formula groups . Growth and stool characteristics , and side effects that occurred in recruited infants were recorded in a 3-mo follow-up period . Fecal sample s were collected from a sub population of recruited infants for analysis of intestinal bacteria ( culture technique ) , acetic acid ( gas chromatography ) and pH ( indicator strip ) . RESULTS After 3 mo , the intestinal Bifidobacteria , Lactobacilli , acetic acid and stool frequency were significantly increased , and fecal pH was decreased in infants fed with the GOS-formula or human milk , compared with those fed with the formula without GOS . No significant differences were observed between the GOS formula and human milk groups . Supplementation with GOS did not influence the incidence of crying , regurgitation and vomiting . CONCLUSION A low level of GOS ( 0.24 g/100 mL ) in infant formula can improve stool frequency , decrease fecal pH , and stimulate intestinal Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli as in those fed with human milk
On the basis of this review , available scientific data suggest that the administration of currently evaluated probiotic- and /or prebiotic-supplemented formula to healthy infants does not raise safety concerns with regard to growth and adverse effects .
Infant formulae are increasingly supplemented with probiotics , prebiotics , or synbiotics despite uncertainties regarding their efficacy .
The present article , developed by the Committee on Nutrition of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology , Hepatology , and Nutrition , systematic ally review s published evidence related to the safety and health effects of the administration of formulae supplemented with probiotics and /or prebiotics compared with unsupplemented formulae .