ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Prebiotic-containing infant formula may beneficially affect gastrointestinal tolerance and commensal microbiota composition. OBJECTIVE: Assess gastrointestinal tolerance and fecal microbiota, pH, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations of infants consuming formula with or without prebiotics. DESIGN: Full-term formula-fed infants were studied to a breastfed comparison group (BF). Formula-fed infants (FF) were randomized to consume a partially hydrolyzed whey formula with (PRE) or without (CON) 4 g/L of galacto-oligosaccharides and fructo-oligosaccharides (9:1). Fecal bacteria, pH, and SCFA were assessed at baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks. Caregivers of patients recorded stool characteristics and behavior for 2 days before the 3- and 6-week visits. RESULTS: Feces from infants fed PRE had a higher absolute number (P = .0083) and proportion (P = .0219) of bifidobacteria than CON-fed infants and did not differ from BF. BF had a higher proportion of bifidobacteria than CON (P = .0219) and lower number of Clostridium difficile than FF (P = .0087). Feces from formula-fed infants had higher concentrations of acetate (P < .001), butyrate (P < .001), propionate (P < .001), and total SCFAs (P = .0230) than BF; however, fecal pH was lower (P = .0161) in PRE and BF than CON. Prebiotic supplementation did not alter stool patterns, tolerance, or growth. BF had more frequent stools that were yellow (P < .0001) and more often liquid than FF (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Infant formula containing the studied oligosaccharides was well tolerated, increased abundance and proportion of bifidobacteria, and reduced fecal pH in healthy infants.
Subject(s)
Dietary Supplements , Feces/microbiology , Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism , Infant Formula/administration & dosage , Infant Formula/chemistry , Prebiotics/analysis , Bifidobacterium/growth & development , Bifidobacterium/isolation & purification , Clostridioides difficile/growth & development , Clostridioides difficile/isolation & purification , Double-Blind Method , Fatty Acids, Volatile/analysis , Feces/chemistry , Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence , Infant , Metagenome/drug effects , Oligosaccharides/administration & dosage , Oligosaccharides/chemistry , Prospective Studies , Trisaccharides/administration & dosage , Trisaccharides/chemistryABSTRACT
Strabismus surgery in pediatric patients is associated with a high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Ondansetron disintegrating tablets (ODT), an oral freeze-dried formulation of the 5-HT(3) antagonist, are well-tolerated and have been shown to reduce chemotherapy-induced vomiting. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of the ODT in preventing postoperative vomiting (POV) in children undergoing strabismus repair. Healthy children aged 4-12 years of age were administered a 4 mg ODT 30 minutes prior to the induction of general anesthesia. Induction and maintenance of anesthesia were standardized; each child received acetaminophen and ketorolac pre-emptively for analgesia. This study group was compared with a historical control group who received a placebo in previously conducted identical trials of POV. The 35 children included in this study were compared with 31 controls. The incidence and severity of POV and use of rescue antiemetics were significantly lower in children who received ODT compared with placebo (p
