A non-hydrolyzed, fermented milk formula reduces digestive and respiratory events in infants at high risk of allergy.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of a not hydrolyzed fermented infant formula containing heat-killed Bifidobacterium breve C50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065 (HKBBST) on the incidence of allergy-like events during the first 2 years of life in children at high risk of atopy. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled study included infants at high risk of atopy. Infants used HKBBST or a standard infant formula (SIF) since birth until 1 year of age, and were followed at 4, 12 and 24 months after birth. Skin prick tests (SPTs) for six foods and six aeroallergens were systematically performed and adverse events (AEs) were recorded. In case of potentially allergic AE (PAAE), allergy could be further tested by SPT, patch tests and quantification of specific IgEs. If cow's milk allergy (CMA) was suspected, an oral challenge could also be performed. RESULTS: The study included 129 children, 63 were randomized to SIF, 66 to HKBBST. The use of HKBBST milk did not alter the proportion of CMA but decreased the proportion of positive SPT to cow's milk (1.7 vs 12.5%, P=0.03), and the incidence of digestive (39 vs 63%, P=0.01) and respiratory potentially allergic AEs (7 vs 21%, P=0.03) at 12 months, and that of respiratory PAAEs at 24 months (13 vs 35%, P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HKBBST decreased the incidence of PAAEs in children with family history of atopy, during the first months of life and after the formula was stopped. Oral tolerance to cow's milk in infants at high risk of atopy may therefore be improved using not hydrolyzed fermented formulae.

[Benefits of a thickened infant formula with lactase activity in the management of benign digestive disorders in newborns]. / Intérêt d'une formule infantile épaissie avec activité lactasique dans la prise en charge des troubles digestifs bénins du nourrisson.

This study aimed at evaluating the interest of a thickened infant formula with lactase activity by comparison with a standard infant formula in the management of benign digestive disorders in infants. Infants of both sex (N =109), ranging in age from 0 to 3 months, were included in a randomised double blind trial. Infants went to the paediatrician because of benign digestive disorders such as regurgitation, eructation or hiccup, colic, persistent crying and/or meteorism. Nine hundred and three infants were included and randomised in two parallel groups: they consumed daily either the thickened infant formula with lactase activity or a standard infant formula. There were no significant difference in the infants included in both groups. Both formula were well accepted and tolerated. Growth of the infants and compliance during the study were identical and good in the two groups. The efficiency of the formula tested was showed on digestive symptoms through: a decrease of the intensity of the digestive discomforts more important in the test than in the standard formula group; a decrease of the intensity of the gaz significantly more important in the test than in the standard formula group; significant decreases in frequency and intensity of the gaz in the test group while there were no significant diminution in the standard group; This study showed the good tolerance, acceptability and efficiency of a thickened infant formula with lactase activity on benign digestive disorders of young infants.

Effects of long-term consumption of a fermented infant formula (with Bifidobacterium breve c50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065) on acute diarrhea in healthy infants.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether long-term consumption of a fermented infant formula could influence the incidence of acute diarrhea and its severity in healthy infants. METHOD: Nine hundred seventy-one infants, ranging in age from 4 to 6 months, were included in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial during a period of 5 months. They consumed daily either a fermented infant formula (FF) (fermentation with Bifidobacterium breve C50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065) or a standard infant formula (SF) of the same nutritional composition. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Number and duration of acute diarrhea episodes were evaluated. Severity of the episodes was determined by the number of hospital admissions, incidence of dehydration, number of medical consultations, number of oral rehydration solution prescriptions, and number of formula switches. RESULTS: Growth of the infants and acceptability of the formulas were identical in the two groups. Incidence, duration of diarrhea episodes, and number of hospital admissions did not differ significantly between groups. Episodes were less severe in the FF (fermented formula) group. There were fewer cases of dehydration 2.5%versus 6.1% (P = 0.01), fewer medical consultations (46%v 56.6%, P = 0.003), fewer ORS prescriptions 41.9%v 51.9% (P = 0.003) and fewer switches to other formulas (59.5%v 74.9%, P = 0.0001) in FF infants compared to SF. CONCLUSION: A fermented formula may reduce the severity of acute diarrhea among healthy young infants. This outcome may be linked to the bifidogenic effects of fermentation products and their interactions with the intestinal immune system.

High faecal calprotectin concentrations in newborn infants.

BACKGROUND: Calprotectin, a major component of soluble cytosolic proteins in human neutrophil granulocytes, is excreted in excess in stools during inflammatory bowel disease in adults and children. Faecal calprotectin concentrations are also higher during the first year of life than in adults. OBJECTIVES: To measure faecal calprotectin concentrations in the neonatal period and define reference values according to the mode of feeding: standard infant formula, prebiotic infant formula (Calisma, Blédina SA, France), or breast feeding. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out over three months in 69 full term, healthy newborns with a median gestational age of 39.8 weeks (range 37-41.5) and a birth weight of 3300 g (range 2600-4460). Three groups were formed depending on the mode of feeding: group 1 (n = 18) received a standard infant formula, group 2 (n = 19) the prebiotic infant formula, and group 3 (n = 32) was breast fed. One stool sample was taken from each newborn on day 4 (3-7), and faecal calprotectin analysed using a commercial enzyme linked immunoassay (Calprest, Eurospital, Italy). RESULTS: Faecal calprotectin concentrations (median 167 micro g/g) were higher than reference values in healthy adults. The concentration was below the upper reference limit for adults (50 micro g/g) for three infants only, one fed the standard formula and two fed the prebiotic formula. Concentrations did not differ significantly according to method of feeding. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with healthy adults, newborns have high calprotectin concentrations in the first days of life. There is no obvious influence of the mode of feeding.