Current evidence from systematic review and meta- analysis revealed that probiotics are the most promising intervention in reduction of the incidence of NEC in VLBW neonates .
As per the evidence , prebiotics modulate the composition of human intestine microflora to the benefit of the host by suppression of colonization of harmful microorganism and /or the stimulation of bifidobacterial growth , decreased stool viscosity , reduced gastrointestinal transit time , and better feed tolerance .
Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) is one of the most serious gastrointestinal emergencies in very low birth weight ( VLBW ) preterm neonates , affecting 7 - 14 % of these neonates .
Due to the seriousness of the disease , prevention of NEC is the most important goal .
The effect of a prebiotic supplemented formula on growth and stool microbiology of term infants.
BACKGROUND The intestinal flora of breast-fed infants is generally dominated by bifidobacteria which have beneficial properties . Their presence is due to various compounds of breast milk including prebiotic substances . AIM This prospect i ve , double blind , study compared the growth , acceptability and the proportion of bifidobacteria and clostridia in the stool flora of bottle-fed infants r and omized to receive a formula with a specific mixture of 0.4 g/100 ml prebiotic galacto- and long-chain fructooligosaccharides or the same formula without added prebiotics . METHODS Within 0 - 14 days after birth at term , healthy bottle-fed infants were enrolled to receive either a prebiotic formula or a st and ard formula . At recruitment anthropometric measurements were done . These were repeated at the age of 6 and 12 weeks . Stool sample s were taken at inclusion and at the age of 6 weeks . The number of bifidobacteria and clostridia was determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization . RESULTS There was good tolerance of the prebiotic formula . Somatic growth was similar in the two groups . Stool frequency was significantly higher in the prebiotic group ( P=0.031 ) . Infants in the prebiotic group had also softer stools as compared to the control group ( P=0.026 ) . Baseline values of microorganisms at study entry were similar . The percentage of faecal clostridia at the completion of the study was significantly lower in the prebiotic group ( P=0.042 ) , while the proportion of faecal bifidobacteria was higher in the prebiotic group as compared to the control group . However this difference did not reach statistical significance ( P=0.262 ) . The percentage of E. coli was lower in the prebiotic group but again this did not reach statistical significance ( P=0.312 ) . CONCLUSION An infant formula containing prebiotic oligosaccharides is well tolerated , leads to normal somatic growth and suppresses the numbers of clostridia in the faeces with a trend for higher percentage of stool bifidobacteria and lower percentage of E. coli
Current evidence from systematic review and meta- analysis revealed that probiotics are the most promising intervention in reduction of the incidence of NEC in VLBW neonates .
As per the evidence , prebiotics modulate the composition of human intestine microflora to the benefit of the host by suppression of colonization of harmful microorganism and /or the stimulation of bifidobacterial growth , decreased stool viscosity , reduced gastrointestinal transit time , and better feed tolerance .
Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) is one of the most serious gastrointestinal emergencies in very low birth weight ( VLBW ) preterm neonates , affecting 7 - 14 % of these neonates .
Due to the seriousness of the disease , prevention of NEC is the most important goal .