Fermented formula has the potential to reduce some , albeit not well-defined , digestive symptoms .
Current evidence does not support the use of fermented formula for preventing cow ’s milk allergy .
Conclusion : Limited available evidence suggests that the use of fermented infant formula , compared with the use of st and ard infant formula , does not offer clear additional benefits , although some benefit on gastrointestinal symptoms can not be excluded .
What is new• Limited evidence available suggests that the use of fermented infant formula , compared with the use of st and ard infant formula , does not offer clear additional benefits , although some benefit on gastrointestinal symptoms can not be excluded .
At the same time , no negative health effects have been documented
Abstract Fermented formulas , i.e. , those fermented with lactic acid-producing bacteria during the production process and not containing significant amounts of viable bacteria in the final product , are widely available in many countries .
Our aim was to systematic ally review published evidence related to the safety and health effects of the administration of fermented infant formulas compared with st and ard infant formulas .
Effects of Long-term Consumption of a Fermented Infant Formula (with Bifidobacterium breve c50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065) on Acute Diarrhea in Healthy Infants
Objective : To determine whether long-term consumption of a fermented infant formula could influence the incidence of  acute diarrhea  and its severity in healthy infants . Method : Nine hundred seventy-one infants , ranging in age from 4 to 6 months , were included in a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial during a period of 5 months . They consumed daily either a fermented infant formula ( FF ) ( fermentation with Bifidobacterium breve C50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065 ) or a st and ard infant formula ( SF ) of the same nutritional composition . Evaluation Criteria : Number and duration of acute diarrhea episodes were evaluated . Severity of the episodes was determined by the number of hospital admissions , incidence of dehydration , number of medical consultations , number of oral rehydration solution prescriptions , and number of formula switches . Results : Growth of the infants and acceptability of the formulas were identical in the two groups . Incidence , duration of diarrhea episodes , and number of hospital admissions did not differ significantly between groups . Episodes were less severe in the FF ( fermented formula ) group . There were fewer cases of dehydration 2.5%versus 6.1 % ( P = 0.01 ) , fewer medical consultations ( 46%v 56.6 % , P = 0.003 ) , fewer ORS prescriptions 41.9%v 51.9 % ( P = 0.003 ) and fewer switches to other formulas ( 59.5%v 74.9 % , P = 0.0001 ) in FF infants compared to SF . Conclusion : A fermented formula may reduce the severity of acute diarrhea among healthy young infants . This outcome may be linked to the bifidogenic effects of fermentation products and their interactions with the intestinal immune system
Fermented formula has the potential to reduce some , albeit not well-defined , digestive symptoms .
Current evidence does not support the use of fermented formula for preventing cow ’s milk allergy .
Conclusion : Limited available evidence suggests that the use of fermented infant formula , compared with the use of st and ard infant formula , does not offer clear additional benefits , although some benefit on gastrointestinal symptoms can not be excluded .
What is new• Limited evidence available suggests that the use of fermented infant formula , compared with the use of st and ard infant formula , does not offer clear additional benefits , although some benefit on gastrointestinal symptoms can not be excluded .
At the same time , no negative health effects have been documented
Abstract Fermented formulas , i.e. , those fermented with lactic acid-producing bacteria during the production process and not containing significant amounts of viable bacteria in the final product , are widely available in many countries .
Our aim was to systematic ally review published evidence related to the safety and health effects of the administration of fermented infant formulas compared with st and ard infant formulas .