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 .
Prebiotic Effect Of Fructo-Oligosaccharide Supplemented Term Infant Formula at Two Concentrations Compared with Unsupplemented Formula and Human Milk
Background : Human milk components , including oligosaccharides , affect the gastrointestinal flora of infants . Previous studies in adults have demonstrated that fructo-oligosaccharides increase potentially beneficial fecal bacteria , including bifidobacteria . The purpose of this study was to determine the prebiotic effect of infant formula supplemented with fructo-oligosaccharides .  Methods : Healthy term infants 2 to 6 weeks of age were enrolled in a 5-week , prospect i ve , r and omized , crossover , single-site study with a nonr and omized human milk comparator group . Washout weeks preceded and followed a week of feeding with fructo-oligosaccharide-supplemented formula ( 1.5 or 3.0 g/L ) . Stool specimens were quantitatively cultured weekly for bacteroides , lactobacilli , bifidobacteria , clostridia and enterococci and were tested for Clostridium difficile toxin . Results : Seventy-two of 87 infants completed the trial ; 58 were formula fed and 14 were human milk fed .  Mean counts of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli were similar in all groups at entry and no group experienced a significant change in counts with fructo-oligosaccharide supplementation . After 7 days of fructo-oligosaccharide supplementation the bifidobacteria counts were greater in the 1.5 g/L fructo-oligosaccharide formula group than in the human milk fed or 3.0 g/L fructo-oligosaccharide formula groups . Formula-fed infants had higher counts of enterococci and bacteroides before fructo-oligosaccharide supplementation , and these counts did not change after supplementation . Clostridium counts increased 7 days after supplementation in the 1.5 g/L fructo-oligosaccharide formula group ( P = 0.0356 ) . No human milk fed infants had C. difficile toxin in stools .  Fructo-oligosaccharide ( 3.0 g/L ) supplementation result ed in more frequent and significantly softer stools . Conclusions : Infant formula supplemented with 1.5 or 3.0 g/L fructo-oligosaccharides was safe but had minimal effect on fecal flora and C. difficile toxin
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 .