Synbiotics failed to significantly increase growth in boys and girls .
Use of synbiotics increased stool frequency , had no impact on stool consistency , colic , spitting up / regurgitation , crying , restlessness or vomiting .
Probiotics in formula also failed to have any significant effect on growth , stool frequency or consistency .
Probiotics did not lower the incidence of diarrhoea , colic , spitting up / regurgitation , crying , restlessness or vomiting .
Prebiotics in formula did increase weight gain but had no impact on length or head circumference gain .
Prebiotics increased stool frequency but had no impact on stool consistency , the incidence of colic , spitting up / regurgitation , crying , restlessness or vomiting .
There was no impact of prebiotics on the volume of formula tolerated , infections and gastrointestinal microflora .
Authors ’ conclusions There is not enough evidence to state that supplementation of term infant formula with synbiotics , probiotics or prebiotics does result in improved growth or clinical outcomes in term infants .
There is no data available to establish if synbiotics are superior to probiotics or prebiotics
Background Synbiotics , probiotics or prebiotics are being added to infant formula to promote growth and development in infants .
Previous review s ( 2007 to 2011 ) on term infants given probiotics or prebiotics focused on prevention of allergic disease and food hypersensitivity .
This review focused on growth and clinical outcomes in term infants fed only infant formula containing synbiotics , probiotics or prebiotics .
A formula containing galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides prevents intestinal and extra-intestinal infections: an observational study.
BACKGROUND & AIM The addition of prebiotics to infant formula modifies the composition of intestinal microflora . Aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that prebiotics reduce the incidence of intestinal and respiratory infections in healthy infants . METHODS A prospect i ve , r and omized , placebo-controlled , open trial was performed . Healthy infants were enrolled and r and omized to a formula additioned with a mixture of galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides or to a control formula . The incidence of intestinal and respiratory tract infections and the anthropometric measures were monitored for 12 months . RESULTS Three hundred and forty two infants ( mean age 53.7+/-32.1 days ) were enrolled . The incidence of gastroenteritis was lower in the supplemented group than in the controls ( 0.12+/-0.04 vs. 0.29+/-0.05 episodes/child/12 months ; p=0.015 ) . The number of children with more than 3 episodes tended to be lower in prebiotic group ( 17/60 vs. 29/65 ; p=0.06 ) . The number of children with multiple antibiotic courses/year was lower in children receiving prebiotics ( 24/60 vs. 43/65 ; p=0.004 ) . A transient increase in body weight was observed in children on prebiotics compared to controls during the first 6 months of follow-up . CONCLUSIONS Prebiotic administration reduce intestinal and , possibly , respiratory infections in healthy infants during the first year of age
Synbiotics failed to significantly increase growth in boys and girls .
Use of synbiotics increased stool frequency , had no impact on stool consistency , colic , spitting up / regurgitation , crying , restlessness or vomiting .
Probiotics in formula also failed to have any significant effect on growth , stool frequency or consistency .
Probiotics did not lower the incidence of diarrhoea , colic , spitting up / regurgitation , crying , restlessness or vomiting .
Prebiotics in formula did increase weight gain but had no impact on length or head circumference gain .
Prebiotics increased stool frequency but had no impact on stool consistency , the incidence of colic , spitting up / regurgitation , crying , restlessness or vomiting .
There was no impact of prebiotics on the volume of formula tolerated , infections and gastrointestinal microflora .
Authors ’ conclusions There is not enough evidence to state that supplementation of term infant formula with synbiotics , probiotics or prebiotics does result in improved growth or clinical outcomes in term infants .
There is no data available to establish if synbiotics are superior to probiotics or prebiotics
Background Synbiotics , probiotics or prebiotics are being added to infant formula to promote growth and development in infants .
Previous review s ( 2007 to 2011 ) on term infants given probiotics or prebiotics focused on prevention of allergic disease and food hypersensitivity .
This review focused on growth and clinical outcomes in term infants fed only infant formula containing synbiotics , probiotics or prebiotics .