Comparison of the gut microbiota profile in breast-fed and formula-fed Korean infants using pyrosequencing

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Feeding in infancy is the most significant determinant of the intestinal microbiota in early life. The aim of this study was to determine the gut microbiota of Korean infants and compare the microbiota obtained between breast-fed and formula-fed Korean infants. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We analyzed the microbial communities in fecal samples collected from twenty 4-week old Korean (ten samples in each breast-fed or formula-fed) infants using pyrosequencing. RESULTS: The fecal microbiota of the 4-week-old Korean infants consisted of the three phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. In addition, five species, including Bifidocbacterium longum, Streptococcus salivarius, Strepotococcus lactarius, Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae, and Lactobacillus gasseri were common commensal intestinal microbiota in all infants. The predominant intestinal microbiota in the breast-fed infants (BFI) included the phylum Actinobacteria (average 70.55%), family Bifidobacteriacea (70.12%), genus Bifidobacterium (70.03%) and species Bifidobacterium longum (69.96%). In the microbiota from the formula-fed infants (FFI), the proportion of the phylum Actinobacteria (40.68%) was less, whereas the proportions of Firmicutes (45.38%) and Proteobacteria (13.85%) as well as the diversity of each taxonomic level were greater, compared to those of the BFI. The probiotic species found in the 4-week-old Korean infants were Bifidobacterium longum, Streptococcus salivarius, and Lactobacillus gasseri. These probiotic species accounted for 93.81% of the microbiota from the BFI, while only 63.80% of the microbiota from the FFI. In particular, B. longum was more abundant in BFI (69.96%) than in FFI (34.17%). CONCLUSIONS: Breast milk supports the growth of B. longum and inhibits others. To the best of our knowledge, this study was the first attempt to analyze the gut microbiota of healthy Korean infants according to the feeding type using pyrosequencing. Our data can be used as a basis for further studies to investigate the development of intestinal microbiota with aging and disease status.

Comparison of Hematologic and Serum Biochemistric Values at 1 Month of Age between Breast-fed and Formula-fed Infants

PURPOSE: We compared the hematologic data, serum biochemical and immunoglobulin values at 1 month of age and anthropometric variables at 1, 4, and 6 months of age between breast-fed and formula-fed infants. METHODS: Healthy full-term infants whose parents agreed with our study were enrolled. The hematologic and serum biochemical and immunoglobulin values were measured at birth and at 1 month of age. Anthropometric variables were measured at birth and 1, 4, and 6 months of age. RESULTS: In general, the hematologic and serum biochemical and immunoglobulin values were not different at 1 month of age between breast-fed and formula-fed infants. And there were no differences in growth between breast-fed and formula-fed infants from 0 to 6 months. CONCLUSION: There were no differences in growth and almost same values of hematology, serum biochemistry, immunoglobulin between breast-fed and formula-fed infants.

Comparison of Immunoglobulin Levels in Serum between Breast- and Formula-fed Newborns / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: It had been well known that breast feeding to infants has many advantages and benefits comparing to formula feeding. So, We performed this study to clarify the relationship between immunoglobulin (Ig) levels and diet during newborn period. METHODS: We measured the levels of IgG, IgA and IgM by Array 360 System (Beckman Instruments, CA, U.S.A). Subjects were 29 breast-fed and 13 formula-fed newborns. We evaluated the results and analyzed the change of concentrations of IgG, IgA and IgM according to diet, sex and postnatal period. RESULTS: The levels of IgG, IgA and IgM in breast-fed newborns at postnatal 1-day were higher than formula-fed newborns, but the levels of Ig G and Ig A in formula-fed newborns at postnatal 30-day were higher than breast-fed newborns. CONCLUSIONS: There was no clinical signficance in the difference of IgG, IgA and IgM levels according to diet, sex and postnatal period, respectively.

Concentrations of Major Minerals and Trace Elements in Sera of The Breast-fed and Formula-fed Infants / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The serum concentrations of the major minerals(calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium) and trace elements(iron, Zinc, copper manganese)were datermined in 23 breast fed infants living in Eumsung, Choong-buk region. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1)The mean levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium of the serum of total subjects were 8.15+/-0.33mg/dI, 11.06+/-0.16mg/dI, 2.00+/-0.14mg/dI, 3.4476+/-17.99mg/dI and 9.06+/-2.04mg/dI respectively. 2)The serum concentrations of iron, zinc, copper and manganese in total subjects averaged 95.83+/-0.33mg/dI, 93.79+/-7.06 microgram/dI and 98.57+/-7.06 microgram/dI and 4.93+/-0.62 microgram/dI respecitively. 3)Breast fed infants had significantly higher serum calcim, magnesium, sodium and iron concentrations than the formula fed groups. Otherwise, serum potassium, copper and manganese levels in breast milk fed infants were significantly lower than those in formula fed infants. 4) In formula fed infants, serum potassium and copper levels increased increased significantly with months after birth.

Cross-sectional Study of Growth of Korean Breast Fed Formula Fed Infants from 1 to 3 Postpartum Months / 대한지역사회영양학회지

One-to three -month-old infants(n=252) were compared their growth performance(weight, length, head circumference, chest circumference) by feeding methods in cross-sectional study. There were two groups : breast-fed(BF) and formula-fed groups(FF). The weights of infants at 1, 2, and 3 postpartum month were 4.50+/-.48kg, 5.76+/-0.62kg and 6.67+/-0.68kg, respectively. The weigh of male infants was higher than females. The length were 53.7+/-2.6cm, 57.4+/-3.3cm, 61.1+/-3.1cm at one to three postpartum months, respectively. The length of male infants was higher than females, too. Overall there were no significant differences between feeding methods in weight, length, head and chest circumferences, and monthly weight and length velocity. But 3-month-old formula-fed male infants showed bigger significantly in weight, monthly weight velocity and chest circumference than the breast-feds. By Korean standards, weight-for-height Z-score were distributed from 0 to +2. Not only was there a few malnourished infants but also overnourished were noticed, especially in formula-fed group.

A Study on Nutritional Status of Iron and Lipids in Infants

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to get baseline data to establish a guideline for the infant nutrition by observing the feeding practice and nutritional intake during infancy and evaluationg the nutritional status of iron and lipids at 12-month-old infants. METHODS: This survery was cnducted from July to November, 1992. Subjects were healthy infants who were brought to Yeungnam University Hospital for vaccination. We followed up feeding methods for 6 months in 120 infants, and laboratory tests which include hemoglobin, fematocrit, MCHC, ferritin, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio were done in 36 infants at 12 months of age. RESULTS: Male to female sex ratio was 1.6:1 in total 120 study infants. Among 36 infants who took laboratory tests, five infants were breast-fed, 25 were formula-fed, and 6 were mexed-fed. Percentage of the formula-fed infants increased as their monthly age increases. Although 54.2% of the studied infants were started weaning diet at four months of age, 10.8% of infants were not given any weaning diet until 6 month of age. Breastfed infnats had lower hemoglobin(10.6+/-1.8g/dl), hematocrit(32.6+/-3.6%), serum ferritin(13.6+/-13.1ng/ml)(p<0.05), and 15.6% of them had anemia and 16.7% of them had iron deficiency. Serum lipids levels except total cholesterol in breaset-fed female infants were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm that the incidence of iron deficiency anemia was increased in breast fed infants and there was no difference in lipids levels according to different feeding methods. Adequate iron supplementation through weaning diets is one of the most important problems in breast milk feeding