Reaching for the gold standard in infant nutrition

IN THE DOMAIN of infant nutrition, breastfeeding is considered the gold standard of nutrition and is strongly recommended as the preferred mode of feeding. When infant formulae represent the sole source of nutrients during the first months of a baby's life, however, these formulae must respond to the highest standards, notably with a composition as well as with functional and physiological benefits that come as close as possible to those of human milk. Other important aspects to consider in the development of infant formulae are their safety and their ability to promote normal growth and development.

Bifidobacteria comparable to breast-fed babies

Amongst other compounds, mother's milk contains a substantial amount of oligosaccharides that most probably account for the bifidobacteria-predominant colonisation observed in the microflora of breast-fed versus formula-fed infants.
Results of a new study demonstrate that the supplementation of an infant formula with oligofructose-enriched inulin has a favourable prebiotic effect and is well tolerated by babies. This research was led by Prof Gigi Veereman-Wauters (Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at UZ Brussels, Belgium) and conducted at the Queen Paola and Middelheim Hospitals ZNA Antwerp, Belgium, in co-operation with BENEO-Institute.
In addition to numerous conducted studies acknowledging the beneficial effects on digestive health, and in particular on the microflora composition, the recent study also evidences the safety and good tolerance of Beneo's Orafti Synergy1 (oligofructose-enriched inulin) in neonates, and opens new opportunities for this prebiotic in the area of infant feeding.
"The early colonisation of the babies' microflora is playing a pivotal role in many aspects of the babies' health, and the normal healthy gastrointestinal microflora, which includes bifidobacteria to a large extend is notably protecting the newborn against infections. Therefore, since many years, there is an interest in adding prebiotics to infant formulae, with the aim to provide physiological benefits that mimic those observed in breast-fed babies," said Professor Veereman-Wauters, explaining the study's significance.
The results of this new study¹ confirm the prebiotic effect of oligofructose-enriched inulin in a population that was hardly investigated until now – newborns.
The study is a prospective, randomised, double blind, controlled intervention study including 110 healthy neonates, receiving different prebiotics included in an infant formula, during four weeks. The babies received a control (unsupplemented) infant formula, or a formula enriched with the oligofructose-enriched inulin at two different concentrations (0.4 or 0.8 g/dl), or a formula enriched with galacto-oligosaccharide and fructo-oligosaccharide in a 90:10 relation (0.8 g/dl). A group of breast-fed babies was also included in the study as reference group.
Results show that the tolerance and safety profiles were good for all supplemented formulae; proper growth was observed in all groups as well. The prebiotics had positive effects on some of the measured physiological parameters, by softening stool consistency, whilst babies in the control group that had the hardest stools.
At 0.8 g/dl, Orafti Synergy1 intake furtherNIKE AIR MAX