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 .
Growth during the first 6 months of life in infants using formula enriched with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG: double-blind, randomized trial.
BACKGROUND Probiotic bacteria have beneficial effects on the immune system and gastrointestinal tract , but the impacts of their long-term consumption on health and growth in early infancy are not well documented . The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG)-enriched formula on growth and faecal microflora during the first 6 months of life in normal healthy infants . MATERIAL S AND METHODS One hundred and twenty healthy infants ( up to 2 months ) received LGG-supplemented formula or regular formula in a double-blind , r and omized manner until the age of 6 months . Weight , length and head circumference were measured monthly and transformed into st and ard deviation scores ( SDS ) . Faecal sample s were obtained from a r and om sample of infants ( n=25 ) at entry and at the end of the study . RESULTS One hundred and five infants ( 51 in the LGG group ) completed the study . Children receiving LGG-supplemented formula grew better : their changes in their length and weight SDS ( DeltaSDS ) at the end of the study were significantly higher than those receiving regular formula ( 0.44+/- 0.37 versus 0.07+/- 0.06 , P < 0.01 and 0.44+/- 0.19 versus 0.07+/- 0.06 , P < 0.005 , respectively ) . The LGG group had a significant , higher defecation frequency 9.1+/-2.06 versus 8.0+/- 2.8 ( P<0.05 ) . More frequent colonization with lactobacilli was found in the LGG group , 91 % versus 76 % ( P<0.05 ) at the end of the study . CONCLUSIONS Infants fed with LGG-enriched formula grew better than those fed with regular formula . Further studies are necessary to clarify the mechanism of LGG in infant growth
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 .