Effects of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics on the infant gut microbiota and other health outcomes: A systematic review.

The primary aim of this review was to systematically evaluate the literature regarding the effect of pre-, pro-, or synbiotic supplementation in infant formula on the gastrointestinal microbiota. The Cochrane methodology for systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was employed. Five databases were searched and 32 RCTs (2010-2021) were identified for inclusion: 20 prebiotic, 6 probiotic, and 6 synbiotic. The methods utilized to evaluate gastrointestinal microbiota varied across studies and included colony plating, fluorescence in situ hybridization, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, or tagged sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Fecal Bifidobacterium levels increased with supplementation of prebiotics and synbiotics but not with probiotics alone. Probiotic and synbiotic supplementation generally increased fecal levels of the bacterial strain supplemented in the formula. Across all pre-, pro-, and synbiotic-supplemented formulas, results were inconsistent regarding fecal Clostridium levels. Fecal pH was lower with some prebiotic and synbiotic supplementation; however, no difference was seen with probiotics. Softer stools were often reported in infants supplemented with pre- and synbiotics, yet results were inconsistent for probiotic-supplemented formula. Limited evidence demonstrates that pre- and synbiotic supplementation increases fecal Bifidobacterium levels. Future studies utilizing comprehensive methodologies and additional studies in probiotics and synbiotics are warranted.

A cross-sectional examination of the home food environments of mothers who have undergone metabolic and bariatric surgery: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Healthful dietary changes after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) may benefit not only patients, but the type and/or availability of foods/beverages in the family home food environment (HFE) overall, thereby reducing obesogenic environmental risks to child offspring in the home. Few studies have investigated the family HFE after MBS. OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the HFE of mothers post-MBS differed from the HFE of mothers of normal weight, overweight, and with obesity using an open home food inventory. SETTING: Cincinnati, Ohio and Newark, Delaware. METHODS: Thirty-two mothers with a child (6-12 yr) participated (8 post-MBS, 8 normal weight, 8 overweight, 8 with obesity) in a pilot study. Research personnel recorded all foods and beverages in the home. Per person total energy and servings of fruits, vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages, and energy-dense snack foods in the HFE were examined using 1-way analyses of variance and Cohen's d effect sizes. RESULTS: Mothers in the post-MBS group had significantly fewer servings of sugar-sweetened beverages available per person compared with mothers with obesity (P = .01). Effect sizes for group differences indicated total energy, sugar-sweetened beverages, and servings of fruits and vegetables were generally medium to large, most with lower mean values for the post-MBS group relative to comparator groups. CONCLUSION: These findings, while preliminary, highlight areas for future research and add to an emerging literature on obesogenic risks to offspring in the post-MBS home, a known subgroup at high risk for severe obesity.