Synbiotics failed to significantly increase growth in boys and girls .
Use of synbiotics increased stool frequency , had no impact on stool consistency , colic , spitting up / regurgitation , crying , restlessness or vomiting .
Probiotics in formula also failed to have any significant effect on growth , stool frequency or consistency .
Probiotics did not lower the incidence of diarrhoea , colic , spitting up / regurgitation , crying , restlessness or vomiting .
Prebiotics in formula did increase weight gain but had no impact on length or head circumference gain .
Prebiotics increased stool frequency but had no impact on stool consistency , the incidence of colic , spitting up / regurgitation , crying , restlessness or vomiting .
There was no impact of prebiotics on the volume of formula tolerated , infections and gastrointestinal microflora .
Authors ’ conclusions There is not enough evidence to state that supplementation of term infant formula with synbiotics , probiotics or prebiotics does result in improved growth or clinical outcomes in term infants .
There is no data available to establish if synbiotics are superior to probiotics or prebiotics
Background Synbiotics , probiotics or prebiotics are being added to infant formula to promote growth and development in infants .
Previous review s ( 2007 to 2011 ) on term infants given probiotics or prebiotics focused on prevention of allergic disease and food hypersensitivity .
This review focused on growth and clinical outcomes in term infants fed only infant formula containing synbiotics , probiotics or prebiotics .
The clinical effect of a new infant formula in term infants with constipation: a double-blind, randomized cross-over trial
Background Nutrilon Omneo ( new formula ; NF ) contains high concentration of sn-2 palmitic acid , a mixture of prebiotic oligosaccharides and partially hydrolyzed whey protein . It is hypothesized that NF positively affects stool characteristics in constipated infants . Methods Thirty-eight constipated infants , aged 3–20 weeks , were included and r and omized to NF ( n = 20 ) or a st and ard formula ( SF ; n = 18 ) in period 1 and crossed-over after 3 weeks to treatment period 2 . Constipation was defined by at least one of the following symptoms : 1 ) defecation frequency < 3/week ; 2 ) painful defecation ; 3 ) abdominal or rectal palpable mass . Results Period 1 was completed by 35 infants . A significant increase in defecation frequency ( NF : 3.5 pre versus 5.6/week post treatment ; SF 3.6 pre versus 4.9/week post treatment ) was found in both groups , but was not significantly different between the two formulas ( p = 0.36 ) . Improvement of hard stool consistency to soft stool consistency was found more often with NF than SF , but did not reach statistical significance ( 90 % versus 50 % ; RR , 1.8 ; 95 % CI , 0.9–3.5 ; p = 0.14 ) . No difference was found in painful defecation or the presence of an abdominal or rectal mass between the two groups . Twenty-four infants completed period 2 . Only stool consistency was significantly different between the two formulas ( 17 % had soft stools on NF and hard stools on SF ; no infants had soft stools on SF and hard stools on NF , McNemar test p = 0.046 ) . Conclusion The addition of a high concentration sn-2 palmitic acid , prebiotic oligosaccharides and partially hydrolyzed whey protein result ed in a strong tendency of softer stools in constipated infants , but not in a difference in defecation frequency . Formula transition to NF may be considered as treatment in constipated infants with hard stools
Synbiotics failed to significantly increase growth in boys and girls .
Use of synbiotics increased stool frequency , had no impact on stool consistency , colic , spitting up / regurgitation , crying , restlessness or vomiting .
Probiotics in formula also failed to have any significant effect on growth , stool frequency or consistency .
Probiotics did not lower the incidence of diarrhoea , colic , spitting up / regurgitation , crying , restlessness or vomiting .
Prebiotics in formula did increase weight gain but had no impact on length or head circumference gain .
Prebiotics increased stool frequency but had no impact on stool consistency , the incidence of colic , spitting up / regurgitation , crying , restlessness or vomiting .
There was no impact of prebiotics on the volume of formula tolerated , infections and gastrointestinal microflora .
Authors ’ conclusions There is not enough evidence to state that supplementation of term infant formula with synbiotics , probiotics or prebiotics does result in improved growth or clinical outcomes in term infants .
There is no data available to establish if synbiotics are superior to probiotics or prebiotics
Background Synbiotics , probiotics or prebiotics are being added to infant formula to promote growth and development in infants .
Previous review s ( 2007 to 2011 ) on term infants given probiotics or prebiotics focused on prevention of allergic disease and food hypersensitivity .
This review focused on growth and clinical outcomes in term infants fed only infant formula containing synbiotics , probiotics or prebiotics .