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Faecal short chain fatty acids in breast‐fed and formula‐fed babies
Author(s) -
Edwards Christine A,
Parrett Alison M,
Balmer Susan E,
Wharton Brian A
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1994.tb13059.x
Subject(s) - breast milk , breast feeding , medicine , infant formula , flora (microbiology) , short chain fatty acid , butyric acid , formula feeding , physiology , significant difference , fatty acid , lactic acid , gastroenterology , food science , butyrate , bacteria , biology , biochemistry , pediatrics , genetics , fermentation
Edwards CA, Parrett AM, Balmer SE, Wharton BA. Faecal short chain fatty acids in breast‐fed and formula‐fed babies. Acta Pædiatr 1994;83:459–62. Stockholm. ISSN 0803–5253 The intestinal flora of breast‐fed infants differs from that of formula‐fed infants. It is thought that this difference in flora may be one important reason why breast‐fed babies suffer less from gastrointestinal disease. Differences in intestinal flora are reflected in the profile of faecal short chain fatty acids (SCFA). Very little is known about faecal concentrations of SCFA in babies fed breast milk or infant formula. In this study, faecal SCFA were measured in babies at two and four weeks of age who had been either exclusively breast fed or bottle fed from birth. There was no significant difference in total faecal SCFA concentrations between breast‐fed and formula‐fed babies when lactate was included. The formula‐fed group, however, had less lactic acid and higher concentrations of propionic and n‐buytric acids than breast‐fed babies. Very few babies had significant levels of n‐butyric acid, although this SCFA is believed to be important for the health of the colonic mucosa of adults.