ormula enriched with Beneo Orafti Synergy1 – a 50:50 combination of inulin and oligofructose – or with a combination of galactooligosaccharides plus oligofructose was also found to be well tolerated by infants, according to findings published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition.
“The early colonization of the babies’ microflora is playing a pivotal role in many aspects of the babies’ health, and the normal healthy gastrointestinal microflora, which includes bifidobacteria to a large extend is notably protecting the newborn against infections,” explained the study leader, Professor Gigi Veereman-Wauters frothe Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at UZ Brussels, Belgium.
“Therefore, after many years, there is now an interest in adding prebiotics to infant formulae, with the aim of providing physiological benefits that mimic those observed in breast-fed babies.”
Breast versus bottle
Infant formula is a highly emotive area, with watchdogs keeping a close eye on companies' marketing tactics lest they drift towards promoting their products as preferable to breast feeding.
While it is agreed that breastfeeding is best, formulas are indispensable in cases where mothers are unable to feed their children - be it for health or logistical reasons. Mothers' desire to give their children the best possible start in life means that there is scope for fortification.
Research and product development on the ingredient side has centred on replicating the healthy profile of breast milk as far as possible.
Study details
The Belgian researchers recruited 110 newborns to participate in their randomized controlled trial. Infants were randomly assigned to receive either 0.4 or 0.8 grams per decilitre of the Orafti Synergy1 mix, 0.8 grams per decilitre of the 90:10 GOS:FOS mix, or standard formula. Another group of breastfed newborns was also included in the study for comparison.
Results showed that after one month, all the formula-fed infants had lower stool frequency than infants in the breastfed group, and stools were “only slightly harder than those of breast-fed infants”. The hardest stools were observed in the standard formula group.
The researchers also note that the total number of bacteria in the faeces of the infants of the prebiotic-enriched formula “closely resembled the breast-fed pattern”.
“In [both 0.8 g/dl] groups, Bifidobacterium counts were significantly higher [after 14 and 28 days] compared with [three days] and were comparable with the breast-fed group,” wrote the researchers.
“Tolerance and growth were normal,” they added.
Sound science
The study was welcomed by Anke Sentko, vice president of nutrition communication and regulatory affairs at Beneo, who descrived Prof Veereman-Wauters and her team as an “experienced and recognised partner.
“The results show once again that Beneo’s prebiotics are based on sound science, support a healthy microflora which is particularly important in infants and thus prove beneficial even in a very sensitive population like newborns are.”
Source: Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition
June 2011, Volume 52, Issue 6, Pages 763-771, doi: 10.1097/MPG.0b013e3182139f39
“Physiological and Bifidogenic Effects of Prebiotic Supplements in Infant Formulae”
Authors: G. Veereman-Wauters, S. Staelens, H. Van de Broek, K. Plaskie, F. Wesling, L.C. Roger, A.L. McCartney, P. Assam