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 .
Non-digestible oligosaccharides reduce immunoglobulin free light-chain concentrations in infants at risk for allergy.
Prebiotic oligosaccharides influence the intestinal microbiota and can positively modulate the infant 's immune system . It was demonstrated that a special prebiotic mixture ( Immunofortis ( ® ) ) of short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides ( scGOS ) and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides ( lcFOS ) can reduce the cumulative incidence of atopic dermatitis ( AD ) in infants at risk for allergy as determined using the AD symptom score ( SCORAD ) . Additionally , it was shown very recently that immunoglobulin free light-chain ( Ig-fLC ) might be involved in the pathophysiology of allergic disease . Increased Ig-fLC concentrations were found in patients suffering from AD , cow 's milk allergy , allergic rhinitis , or asthma . In this study , the effect of supplementation of scGOS/lcFOS on the Ig-fLC plasma concentrations in infants at risk for allergy was assessed . The plasma kappa and lambda Ig-fLC concentrations were measured in a double-blind , placebo-controlled , r and omized trial , in which infants at risk for developing allergic disease received a  hypoallergenic whey formula containing 8 g/l of the scGOS/lcFOS mixture ( n = 34 ) or maltodextrin as a placebo ( n=40 ) for 6 months . After intervention , plasma sample s were collected , and total plasma concentrations of lambda and kappa Ig-fLC were analyzed using ELISA . Total kappa and lambda Ig-fLC plasma concentrations were higher in infants suffering from AD when compared to infants without any sign of AD . In infants receiving the prebiotic mixture  , the Ig-fLC levels were significantly lower compared to the placebo-fed infants ( p<0.001 ) . Interestingly , lambda Ig-fLC concentrations were positively correlated with total IgE ( p<0.05 ) . These data demonstrate for the first time that the specific scGOS/lcFOS mixture lowered kappa and lambda Ig-fLC plasma concentrations in infants at high risk for allergies when compared to infants receiving placebo formula . Because Ig-fLC concentrations were increased in infants suffering from AD , this may have contributed , at least in part , to the reduced incidence in AD as described previously . This suggests a possible role for Ig-fLC in the pathophysiology of AD in infants at risk for allergy development
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 .