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 .
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
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 .