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 .
New Prebiotic Blend of Polydextrose and Galacto-oligosaccharides Has a Bifidogenic Effect in Young Infants
Objective : The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of infant formula with polydextrose ( PDX ) and galacto-oligosaccharides ( GOS )  on fecal microbiota and secretory IgA ( sIgA ) . Material s and Methods : In the present double-blind , r and omized study , term infants received control ( Enfamil Lipil ) or the same formula with PDX/GOS ( 4 g/L , 1:1 ratio ; PDX/GOS ) for 60 days ; a reference breast-fed group was included . Formula intake , tolerance , and stool characteristics were collected via electronic diary and analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance . Anthropometric measurements and stool sample s were obtained at baseline and after 30 and 60 days of feeding . Fecal sIgA was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and fecal bacteria by fluorescent in situ hybridization and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction ( qPCR ) ; both were analyzed by Wilcoxon rank sum test . Results : Two hundred thirty infants completed the study . Infants consuming PDX/GOS had softer stools than control at all times ( P < 0.001 ) . Using qPCR , counts in PDX/GOS were closer to the breast-fed group , tended to be higher than control for total bifidobacteria ( P = 0.069 ) and Bifidobacterium longum ( P = 0.057 ) at 30 days , and were significantly higher for total bifidobacteria and B longum at 60 days and B infantis at 30 days ( P = 0.002 ) . No significant differences were detected between PDX/GOS and control in changes from baseline to 30 or 60 days for sIgA or total bifidobacteria by fluorescent in situ hybridization or qPCR ; however , significantly higher changes from baseline were detected between PDX/GOS and control for B infantis at 30 days and B longum at 60 days ( P ⩽ 0.035 ) . Conclusions : Infant formula with PDX/GOS produces soft stools and a bifidogenic effect closer to breast milk than formula without PDX/GOS
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 .