Premium
Early gut colonization with lactobacilli in vaginally born infants fed breast milk or infant formula (637.9)
Author(s) -
Salminen Seppo,
Isolauri Erika,
Endo Akihito,
Scalabrin Deolinda
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.637.9
Subject(s) - infant formula , lactobacillus rhamnosus , breast milk , medicine , lactobacillus reuteri , lactobacillus paracasei , feces , breast feeding , gut flora , bifidobacterium breve , zoology , gastroenterology , biology , lactobacillus , food science , microbiology and biotechnology , pediatrics , bifidobacterium , immunology , biochemistry , fermentation
Background: Mode of delivery and type of feeding (breast or formula feeding) guide compositional development of infant gut microbiota. Objective: To explore the dogma that abrupt change from sterile existence to host‐microbe interaction takes place at birth, the evolution of microbial contact of mother and her neonate was assessed for lactobacilli. Methods: In a double‐blind, randomized, prospective study, 21‐ to 30‐day old healthy term infants vaginally born and exclusively formula‐fed received a routine cow’s milk‐based formula (C; n=79) or the same formula added with 4 g/L (1:1 ratio) of prebiotics polydextrose and galactooligosaccharides (PG; n=74). A reference breastfed group (BF; n=69) was included. Stool samples were obtained at baseline and after 30 and 60 days of feeding to assess fecal bacteria by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Counts expressed as KW score were higher (p<0.05) in BF vs PG (120 vs 110) at 30 days and vs PG and C (115 vs 96 for both) at 60 days for L. paracasei; and vs C (123 vs 108) at 30 days and vs PG and C (122 vs. 99 and 88) at 60 days for L. rhamnosus. At 60 days, L. rhamnosus was higher in PG vs C (99 vs 88). No differences were seen for L. acidophilus, L. casei, L. delbrueckii, L. plantarum, or L. reuteri. Interpretation: Bacteria found in breast milk such as lactobacilli can also be found in infant feces. Modifying formula feeding by adding prebiotics may bring the gut microbiota closer to that of breastfed infants. Bacteria present in breast milk may aid in optimizing early gut colonization and educating the co‐evolving immune system. Grant Funding Source : Supported by a grant from Mead Johnson Nutrition