Supplementation of milk formula with galacto-oligosaccharides improves intestinal micro-flora and fermentation in term infants.
BACKGROUND
Oligosaccharides in human milk may protect infants by improving the intestinal micro-flora and fermentation. This study was to investigate effects of infant formula milk consisting of galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) on intestinal microbial populations and the fermentation characteristics in term infants in comparison with that of human milk.


METHODS
The test formula (Frisolac H, Friesland, Netherland) was supplemented with GOS at a concentration of 0.24 g/dl. Human milk and another formula without oligosaccharides (Frisolac H, Friesland, Netherland) were used as positive and negative control respectively. Growth, stool characteristics, and side effects of the recruited infants were recorded after 3 and 6 months' follow-up, and the fecal species were collected for the analysis of intestinal micro-flora, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) and pH.


RESULTS
At the end of 3- and 6-month feeding period, intestinal Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli were significantly increased in infants fed with GOS supplemented formula and human milk when compared with infants fed with negative control formula; however, there was no statistically significant difference between GOS supplemented formula and human milk groups. Stool characteristics were influenced by the supplement and main fecal SCFA (acetic), and stool frequency were significantly increased in infants fed with GOS supplemented formula and human milk, while the fecal pH was significantly decreased as compared with that of negative control (P < 0.05). Supplementation had no influence on incidence of side effects (including crying, regurgitation and vomiting).


CONCLUSIONS
Supplementing infant formula with GOS at a concentration of 0.24 g/dl stimulates the growth of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in the intestine and stool characteristics are similar to in term infants fed with human milk.
Ben
Xiao-ming
XM
Department of Newborn Infants, Nanjing Children's Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China. benxm@yahoo.com
Zhou
Xiao-yu
XY
Zhao
Wei-hua
WH
Yu
Wen-liang
WL
Pan
Wei
W
Zhang
Wei-li
WL
Wu
Sheng-mei
SM
Van Beusekom
Christien M
CM
Schaafsma
Anne
A
D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005690:Galactose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D009844:Oligosaccharides; D005690:Galactose