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 .
The effect of a fructo-oligosaccharide supplemented formula on gut flora of preterm infants.
AIM The intestinal flora of breast-fed infants is generally dominated by bifidobacteria which have beneficial properties . Their presence is due to various components of breast milk , including prebiotic substances . This prospect i ve double-blind study compared the numbers of bifidobacteria in the stool flora of bottle-fed preterm infants r and omized to receive for 14 days either a formula with prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharides at a concentration of 0.4 g/dL or the same formula with maltodextrin as a placebo . METHODS Within 0 - 14 days after birth , 56 healthy bottle-fed infants were enrolled to receive either the prebiotic or placebo . Faecal sample s were taken at inclusion day and at study day 7 . The number of bifidobacteria in the stools , stool characteristics and somatic growth were recorded during the study . RESULTS In the group fed fructo-oligosaccharides , both the numbers of bifidobacteria in the stools and the proportion of infants colonized with them were significantly higher as compared to the placebo group ( p=0.032 and p=0.030 respectively ) . There was also a higher number of bacteroids in the fructo-oligosaccharide group as compared to the placebo ( p=0.029 ) . At the same time , reduction was noted in the numbers of Escherichia coli and enterococci . ( p=0.029 , and p=0.025 , respectively ) . Supplementation had also significant influence on stool frequency per day ( p=0.0080 ) . CONCLUSION An infant formula containing a small quantity of prebiotic oligosaccharides is well accepted and leads to rapid growth of bifidobacteria in the gut of bottle-fed preterm infants while decreasing the numbers of pathogenic microorganisms
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 .