Processed infant cereals as vehicles of functional components.
Cereals are the most common complementary foods all over the world and there is now a novel possibility to add functional components to target health problems that are not caused by a simple nutritional deficiency. So far there have been very few published trials on the addition of functional components to infant cereals. A single trial has suggested that infant cereals containing a combination of probiotics, prebiotics and zinc are an effective adjunct to oral rehydration solution in the treatment of acute gastroenteritis. Up to now there has been no evidence that infant cereals supplemented with probiotics or prebiotics have a preventive effect on diarrhea but a recent study has suggested that a milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) protein fraction added to an infant cereal reduces the risk of diarrhea in a developing country. There are some promising results suggesting that infant cereals supplemented with probiotics or prebiotics may prevent atopic eczema. The addition of prebiotic oligosaccharides to infant cereals may lead to softer stools, likely to benefit those infants who are suffering from constipation. More studies are needed to verify these results and to assess the effects of other functional components - especially probiotics, prebiotics, nucleotides, novel protein fractions and recombinant human milk proteins - added to infant cereals.
Domellöf
Magnus
M
Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
West
Christina
C
D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000517:prevention & control; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000517:prevention & control; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry*; D005527:Food, Fortified; D058870:Food, Organic; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019936:Probiotics; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D009844:Oligosaccharides; D015032:Zinc