On the basis of this review , available scientific data suggest that the administration of currently evaluated probiotic- and /or prebiotic-supplemented formula to healthy infants does not raise safety concerns with regard to growth and adverse effects .
Infant formulae are increasingly supplemented with probiotics , prebiotics , or synbiotics despite uncertainties regarding their efficacy .
The present article , developed by the Committee on Nutrition of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology , Hepatology , and Nutrition , systematic ally review s published evidence related to the safety and health effects of the administration of formulae supplemented with probiotics and /or prebiotics compared with unsupplemented formulae .
Effect of a Milk Formula With Prebiotics on the Intestinal Microbiota of Infants After an Antibiotic Treatment
Antibiotics exert deleterious effects on the intestinal microbiota , favoring the emergence of opportunistic bacteria and diarrhea . Prebiotics are nondigestible food components that stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria . Our aim was to evaluate the effects on the intestinal microbiota of a prebiotic-supplemented milk formula after an antibiotic treatment . A r and omized , double-blind , controlled clinical trial was carried out in 140 infants 1–2 y of age distributed into two groups after a 1-wk amoxicillin treatment ( 50 mg/kg/d ) for acute bronchitis . The children received for 3 wk > 500 mL/d of a formula with prebiotics ( 4.5 g/L ) or a control without prebiotics . Fecal sample s were obtained on d –7 ( at the beginning of the antibiotic treatment ) , on d 0 ( end of the treatment and before formula administration ) , and on d 7 and 21 ( during formula administration ) . Counts of Bifidobacterium , Lactobacillus-Enterococcus , Clostridium lituseburiense cluster , Clostridium histolyticum cluster , Escherichia coli , and Bacteroides-Prevotella were evaluated by fluorescent in situ hybridization ( FISH ) and flow cytometry . Tolerance and gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded daily . Amoxicillin decreased total fecal bacteria and increased E. coli . The prebiotic significantly increased bifidobacteria from 8.17 ± 1.46 on d 0 to 8.54 ± 1.20 on d 7 compared with the control 8.22 ± 1.24 on d 0 versus 7.95 ± 1.54 on d 7 . The Lactobacillus population showed a similar tendency while the other bacteria were unaffected . No gastrointestinal symptoms were detected during the prebiotic administration . Prebiotics in a milk formula increase fecal bifidobacteria early after amoxicillin treatment without inducing gastrointestinal symptoms
On the basis of this review , available scientific data suggest that the administration of currently evaluated probiotic- and /or prebiotic-supplemented formula to healthy infants does not raise safety concerns with regard to growth and adverse effects .
Infant formulae are increasingly supplemented with probiotics , prebiotics , or synbiotics despite uncertainties regarding their efficacy .
The present article , developed by the Committee on Nutrition of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology , Hepatology , and Nutrition , systematic ally review s published evidence related to the safety and health effects of the administration of formulae supplemented with probiotics and /or prebiotics compared with unsupplemented formulae .