Hostname: page-component-6bf8c574d5-mggfc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-18T21:29:25.722Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Application of prebiotics in infant foods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2007

Gigi Veereman-Wauters
Gigi Veereman-Wauters*
Affiliation:
Queen Paola Children's Hospital, ZNA, Lindendreef 1, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
*
*Corresponding author: Dr G. Veereman-Wauters, fax +32 16 402348, email [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The rationale for supplementing an infant formula with prebiotics is to obtain a bifidogenic effect and the implied advantages of a ‘breast-fed-like’ flora. So far, the bifidogenic effect of oligofructose and inulin has been demonstrated in animals and in adults, of oligofructose in infants and toddlers and of a longchain inulin (10 %) and galactooligosaccharide (90 %) mixture in term and preterm infants. The addition of prebiotics to infant formula softens stools but other putative effects remain to be demonstrated. Studies published post marketing show that infants fed a long-chain inulin/galactooligosaccharide mixture (0·8 g/dl) in formula grow normally and have no side-effects. The addition of the same mixture at a concentration of 0·8 g/dl to infant formula was therefore recognized as safe by the European Commission in 2001 but follow-up studies were recommended. It is thought that a bifidogenic effect is beneficial for the infant host. The rising incidence in allergy during the first year of life may justify the attempts to modulate the infant's flora. Comfort issues should not be confused with morbidity and are likely to be multifactorial. The functional effects of prebiotics on infant health need further study in controlled intervention trials.

Keywords

PrebioticsInfant foodOligofructoseGalactooligosaccharidesInulinBifidogenic
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 93 , Issue S1 , April 2005 , pp. S57 - S60
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2005

References

Bjorksten, B, Sepp, E, Julge, K, Voor, T & Mikelsaar, M (2001) Allergy development and the intestinal microflora during the first year of life. J Allergy Clin Immunol 108, 516–520.Google Scholar
Boehm, G, Lidestri, M, Casetta, P, Jelinek, J, Negretti, F, Stahl, B & Marini, A (2002) Supplementation of a bovine milk formula with an oligosaccharide mixture increases counts of faecal bifidobacteria in preterm infants. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 86, F178–F181.Google Scholar
Bosscher, D, Van Caillie-Bertrand, M & Deelstra, H (2003a) Do thickening properties of locust bean gum affect the amount of calcium, iron and zinc available for absorption from infant formula? In vitro studies. Int J Food Sci Nutr 54, 261–268.Google Scholar
Bosscher, D, Van Caillie-Bertrand, M, Van Cauwenbergh, R & Deelstra, H (2003b) Availabilities of calcium, iron, and zinc from dairy infant formulas is affected by soluble dietary fibers and modified starch fractions. Nutrition 19, 641–645.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Duggan, C, Penny, M, Hibberd, P, Gil, A, Huapaya, A, Cooper, A, Coletta, F, Emenhiser, C & Kleinman, RE (2003) Oligofructose-supplemented infant cereal. 2. Randomized, blinded, community-based trials in Peruvian infants. Am J Clin Nutr 77, 937–942.Google Scholar
Firmansyah, A, Pramita, G, Carrie, Fassler A, Haschke, F, Link-Amster, H (2001) Improved humoral immune response to measles vaccine in infants receiving infant cereal with fructo-oligosaccharides. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 31 A521.Google Scholar
Gdalevich, M, Mimouni, D, David, M & Mimouni, M (2001) Breast-feeding and the onset of atopic dermatitis in childhood: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. J Am Acad Dermatol 45, 520–527.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gibson, GR & Roberfroid, MB (1995) Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiota: introducing the concept of prebiotics. J Nutr 125, 1401–1412.Google Scholar
Guesry, P, Bodanski, H, Tomsit, E & Aeschlimann, J (2000) Effect of 3 doses of fructo-oligosaccharides in infants. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 31, Suppl. 2 S,252.Google Scholar
Harmsen, H, Wildeboer-Veloo, A, Raangs, G, Wagendorp, A, Klijn, N, Bindels, J & Welling, G (2000) Analysis of intestinal flora development in breast-fed and formula-fed infants by using molecular identification and detection methods. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 30, 61–67.Google ScholarPubMed
Haschke, F, Firmansyah, A, Meng, M, Steenhout, P, Carrie, A-L (2001) Functional food for infants and children. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd 149, Suppl. 1S66–S70.Google Scholar
Knol, J, Poelwijk, E, Van der, Linde E (2001) Stimulation of endogenous Bifidobacteria in term infants by an infant formula containing prebiotics. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 32, 399.Google Scholar
Knol, J, Steenbakkers, GMA, Van der Linde, EGM, Gross, S, Helm, K, Klarczyk, M, Schoepfer, H & Kafka, C (2002) Bifidobacterial species that are present in breast-fed infants are stimulated in formula fed infants by changing to a formula containing prebiotics. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 34, 477.Google Scholar
Marini, A, Negretti, F, Boehm, G, Li Destri, M, Clerici-Bagozzi, D, Mosca, F & Agosti, M (2003) Pro- and pre-biotics administration in preterm infants: colonization and influence on faecal flora. Acta Paediatr Suppl 441, 80–81.Google Scholar
Miniello, VL, Moro, GE & Armenio, L (2003) Prebiotics in infant milk formulas: new perspectives. Acta Paediatr Suppl 441, 68–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, N, Chao, C, Yang, L-P, Storm, H, Oliva-Hemker, M & Saavedra, JM (2003) Effects of fructo-oligosaccharide-supplemented infant cereal: a double-blind, randomized trial. Br J Nutr 90, 581–587.Google Scholar
Moro, G, Minoli, I, Mosca, M, Fanaro, S, Jelinek, J, Stahl, B & Boehm, G (2002) Dosage-related bifidogenic effects of galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides in formula fed term infants. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 34, 291–295.Google Scholar
Moro, G, Mosca, F, Miniello, V, Fanaro, S, Jelinek, J, Stahl, B & Boehm, G (2003) Effects of a new mixture of prebiotics on faecal flora and stools in term infants. Acta Paediatr Suppl 441, 77–79.Google Scholar
Pettigrew, M, Khodaee, M, Gillespie, B, Schwartz, K, Bobo, J & Foxman, B (2003) Duration of breastfeeding, daycare and physician visits among infants 6 months and younger. Ann Epidemiol 13, 431–435.Google Scholar
Rigo, J, Pieltain, C, Studzinski, F, Knol, J & Bindels, J (2001) Clinical evaluation in term infants of a new formula based on pre-biotics, β-palmitate, and hydrolised proteins. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 32, 402.Google Scholar
Roberfroid, M (2001) Prebiotics: preferential substrates for specific germs?. Am J Clin Nutr 73, Suppl.406S–409S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saavedra, JM & Tschernia, A (2002) Human studies with probiotics and prebiotics: clinical implications. Br J Nutr 87, Suppl. 2, S241–S246.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saavedra, J, Bauman, N, Oung, I, Perman, J & Yolken, R (1994) Feeding of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Streptococcus thermophilus to infants in hospital for prevention of diarrhea and shedding of rotavirus. Lancet 344, 1046–1049.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saavedra, JM, Tschernia, A, Moore, N, Abi-Hanna, A, Coletta, F, Emenhiser, C & Yolken, R (1999) Gastrointestinal function in infants consuming a weaning food supplemented with oligofructose a prebiotic. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 29 A95.Google Scholar
Schmelzle, H, Wirth, S, Skopnik, H, Radke, M, Knol, J, Bockler, H, Bronstrup, A, Wells, J & Fusch, C (2003) Randomized double-blind study of the nutritional efficacy and bifidogenicity of a new infant formula containing partially hydrolyzed protein, a high beta-palmitic acid level, and nondigestible oligosaccharides. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 36, 343–351.Google ScholarPubMed
Scholtens, P, Alles, M, Van der, Linde, E, Knol J (2003) Introduction of solid weaning foods with added prebiotic oligosaccharides affect the composition of the intestinal microflora. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 36 A566.Google Scholar
Tschernia, A, Moore, N, Abi-Hanna, A, Yolken, R, Coletta, F, Emenhiser, C & Saavedra, JM (1999) Effects of long-term consumption of a weaning food supplemented with oligofructose, a prebiotic, on general infant health status. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 29 A58.Google Scholar
Vandenplas, Y (2002) Oligosaccharides in infant formula. Br J Nutr 87, Suppl. 2, S293–S296.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed