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 .
Early life risk factors for current wheeze, asthma, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness at 10 years of age.
STUDY OBJECTIVES We sought to identify early life factors ( ie , first 4 years ) associated with  wheeze , asthma , and bronchial hyperresponsiveness ( BHR ) at age 10 years , comparing their relative influence for these conditions . METHODS Children were seen at birth , and at 1 , 2 , 4 , and 10 years of age in a whole- population birth cohort study ( 1,456 subjects ) . Information was collected prospect ively on genetic and environmental risk factors .  Skin-prick testing  was performed at 4 years of age . Current wheeze ( in the last 12 months ) and currently diagnosed asthma ( CDA ) [ ie , current wheeze and ever-diagnosed asthmatic subject ] were recorded at 10 years of age when BHR was measured at bronchial challenge . Independent significant risk factors for these outcomes were identified by logistic regression . RESULTS Independent significance for current wheeze occurred with maternal asthma ( odds ratio [ OR ] , 2.08 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 1.27 to 3.41 ) and paternal asthma ( OR , 2.12 ; 95 % CI 1.29 to 3.51 ) , recurrent chest infections at 2 years ( OR , 3.98 ; 95 % CI , 2.36 to 6.70 ) , atopy at 4 years of age ( OR , 3.69 ; 95 % CI , 2.36 to 5.76 ) , eczema at 4 years of age ( OR , 2.15 ; 95 % CI , 1.24 to 3.73 ) , and parental smoking at 4 years of age ( OR , 2.18 ; 95 % CI , 1.25 to 3.81 ) . For CDA , significant factors were maternal asthma ( OR , 2.26 ; 95 % CI , 1.24 to 3.73 ) , paternal asthma ( OR , 2.30 ; 95 % CI , 1.17 to 4.52 ) , and sibling asthma ( OR , 2.00 ; 95 % CI , 1.16 to 3.43 ) , recurrent chest infections at 1 year of age ( OR , 2.67 ; 95 % CI , 1.12 to 6.40 ) and 2 years of age ( OR , 4.11 ; 95 % CI , 2.06 to 8.18 ) , atopy at 4 years of age ( OR , 7.22 ; 95 % CI , 4.13 to 12.62 ) , parental smoking at 1 year of age ( OR , 1.99 ; 95 % CI , 1.15 to 3.45 ) , and male gender ( OR , 1.72 ; 95 % CI , 1.01 to 2.95 ) . For BHR , atopy at 4 years of age ( OR , 5.38 ; 95 % CI , 3.06 to 9.47 ) and high social class at birth ( OR , 2.03 ; 95 % CI , 1.16 to 3.53 ) proved to be significant . CONCLUSIONS Asthmatic heredity , predisposition to early life atopy , plus early passive smoke exposure and recurrent chest infections are important influences for the occurrence of wheeze and asthma at 10 years of age . BHR at 10 years of age has a narrower risk profile , suggesting that factors influencing wheezing symptom expression may differ from those predisposing the patient to BHR
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 .