No statistically significant subgroup differences were found according to infant risk of allergy or type of infant feed .
There is some evidence that a prebiotic supplement added to infant feeds may prevent eczema .
It is unclear whether the use of prebiotic should be restricted to infants at high risk of allergy or may have an effect in low risk population s ; or whether it may have an effect on other allergic diseases including asthma
BACKGROUND Prebiotics ( commonly oligosaccharides ) added to infant feeds have the potential to prevent sensitisation of infants to dietary allergens .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of prebiotic given to infants for the prevention of allergy .
Glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition in very low birth weight infants. Design of a double-blind randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN73254583]
Background Enteral feeding of very low birth weight ( VLBW ) infants is a challenge , since metabolic dem and s are high and administration of enteral nutrition is limited by immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract . The amino acid glutamine plays an important role in maintaining functional integrity of the gut . In addition , glutamine is utilised at a high rate by cells of the immune system . In critically ill patients , glutamine is considered a conditionally essential amino acid . VLBW infants may be especially susceptible to glutamine depletion as nutritional supply of glutamine is limited in the first weeks after birth . Glutamine depletion has negative effects on functional integrity of the gut and leads to immunosuppression . This double-blind r and omised controlled trial is design ed to investigate the effect of glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition on feeding tolerance , infectious morbidity and short-term outcome in VLBW infants . Furthermore , an attempt is made to eluci date the role of glutamine in postnatal adaptation of the gut and modulation of the immune response . Methods VLBW infants ( gestational age < 32 weeks and /or birth weight < 1500 g ) are r and omly allocated to receive enteral glutamine supplementation ( 0.3 g/kg/day ) or isonitrogenous placebo supplementation between day 3 and 30 of life . Primary outcome is time to full enteral feeding ( defined as a feeding volume ≥ 120 mL/kg/day ) . Furthermore , incidence of serious infections and short-term outcome are evaluated . The effect of glutamine on postnatal adaptation of the gut is investigated by measuring intestinal permeability and determining faecal microflora . The role of glutamine in modulation of the immune response is investigated by determining plasma Th1/Th2 cytokine concentrations following in vitro whole blood stimulation
No statistically significant subgroup differences were found according to infant risk of allergy or type of infant feed .
There is some evidence that a prebiotic supplement added to infant feeds may prevent eczema .
It is unclear whether the use of prebiotic should be restricted to infants at high risk of allergy or may have an effect in low risk population s ; or whether it may have an effect on other allergic diseases including asthma
BACKGROUND Prebiotics ( commonly oligosaccharides ) added to infant feeds have the potential to prevent sensitisation of infants to dietary allergens .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of prebiotic given to infants for the prevention of allergy .