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 .
Effect of probiotics on vaccine antibody responses in infancy--a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial.
Probiotics are immunomodulatory and may thus affect vaccine antibody responses . With the accumulating evidence of their health-promoting effects , probiotics are increasingly administered in allergy-prone infants . Therefore , we studied the effect of probiotics on antibody responses to diphtheria , tetanus and Haemophilus influenzae type b ( Hib ) vaccines in 6-month-old infants participating in a r and omized placebo-controlled double-blind allergy-prevention trial . Mothers of unborn children at increased risk for atopy used a combination of four probiotic strains , or a placebo , for 4 wk before delivery . During 6 months from birth , their infants received the same probiotics and galacto-oligosaccharides , or a placebo . The infants were immunized with a DTwP ( diphtheria , tetanus and whole cell pertussis ) at ages 3 , 4 , and 5 months , and with a Hib polysaccharide conjugate at 4 months . Serum diphtheria , tetanus , and Hib IgG antibodies were measured at 6 months . In the probiotic group , protective Hib antibody concentrations ( > /=1 microg/ml ) occurred more frequently , 16 of 32 ( 50 % ) vs. six of 29 ( 21 % ) ( p = 0.020 ) , and the geometric mean ( inter-quartile range ) Hib IgG concentration tended to be higher 0.75 ( 0.15 - 2.71 ) microg/ml than in the placebo group 0.40 ( 0.15 - 0.92 ) microg/ml ( p = 0.064 ) . In these respective groups , diphtheria , 0.38 ( 0.14 - 0.78 ) vs. 0.47 ( 0.19 - 1.40 ) IU/ml ( p = 0.449 ) , and tetanus , 1.01(0.47 - 1.49 ) vs. 0.81 ( 0.56 - 1.39 ) IU/ml ( p = 0.310 ) , IgG titers were comparable . In conclusion , in allergy-prone infants probiotics seem not to impair antibody responses to diphtheria , tetanus , or Hib , but may improve response to Hib immunization
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 .