title: Early neutral prebiotic oligosaccharide supplementation reduces the incidence of some allergic manifestations in the first 5 years of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A mixture of neutral prebiotic oligosaccharides has been shown to reduce the incidence of atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergy associated symptoms during the first 2 years of life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate if this protective effect against allergy lasted beyond the intervention period until 5 y of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective, double blind, placebo-controlled fashion, healthy term infants at risk of atopy were fed either a prebiotic-supplemented (0.8 g/100 ml scGOS/lcFOS) or placebo-supplemented (0.8 g/100 ml maltodextrin) hypoallergenic formula during the first 6 mo of life. Following this intervention period, follow-up continued until 5 y of life. The present study evaluated (i) the cumulative incidence of allergic manifestations during 5 y, and (ii) the prevalence of allergic and persistent allergic manifestations at 5 y. Monitored allergic manifestations were AD, recurrent wheezing, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and urticaria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-two children (50 in placebo group, 42 in intervention group) completed the 5-y follow-up. The 5-y cumulative incidences of any allergic manifestation and atopic dermatitis were significantly lower in the scGOS/lcFOS group (30.9, 19.1 %, respectively) compared to placebo group (66, 38 %, respectively) (p< 0.01 and< 0.05). Children in the scGOS/lcFOS group tended to have a lower incidence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and allergic urticaria (4.8 vs 16% for both manifestations, p=0.08). There was no difference in the cumulative incidence of recurrent wheezing. With regard to the prevalences at 5 y, intervention group had significantly lower prevalence of any persistent allergic manifestation and rhinoconjunctivitis (4.8, 2.4 %, respectively) compared to placebo (26, 14 %, respectively) (p < 0.01 and =0.05). Prevalence of persistent AD tended to be lower in the intervention group (2.4 vs 12%, p= 0.09). Although intervention group had 75% reduction in the prevalence of persistent wheezing (4.8 vs 14 %), no significance was shown.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oligosaccharide prebiotics (scGOS/lcFOS), when started early in life have a protective effect against allergic manifestations in high risk infants. The protection lasts beyond infancy until 5 y of life, for AD and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Long-term follow-up studies in larger populations are warranted to evaluate the potential preventive effect of this mixture on asthma.
authors.affiliation: Italian Association of Human Milk Banks, 20126- Milan, Italy. asertac@tiscali.it
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arslanoglu
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wienz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertino
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010919:Placebos; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D056692:Prebiotics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014581:Urticaria / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010919:Placebos; D011134:Polysaccharides; D056692:Prebiotics; C008315:maltodextrin