title: Effect of an α-lactalbumin-enriched infant formula supplemented with oligofructose on fecal microbiota, stool characteristics, and hydration status: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of oligofructose (OF)-supplemented infant formula on fecal microbiota, stool characteristics, and hydration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-five formula-fed infants were randomized to α-lactalbumin-enriched control formula (CF) or identical formula with 3.0 g/L OF (EF) for 8 weeks; 50 infants fed human milk (HM) were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-four infants completed the study, 70 met per-protocol criteria. Over 8 weeks, bifidobacteria increased more in EF than CF group (0.70 vs. 0.16 log10 bacterial counts/g dry feces, P = .008); EF was not significantly different from HM group (P = .32). EF group stool consistency was intermediate between CF and HM groups; at week 8, EF group had softer stools than CF (5-point scale: 1 = hard, 5 = watery; consistency score 3.46 vs. 2.82, P = .015) without significant differences in stool frequency. Physician-assessed hydration status was normal for all infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infant formula with 3.0 g/L OF promoted bifidobacteria growth and softer stools without adversely affecting stool frequency or hydration.
authors.affiliation: Nestlé Nutrition, King of Prussia, PA, USA susan.wernimont@rd.nestle.com.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wernimont
authors.affiliation: Nestlé Nutrition, King of Prussia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Northington
authors.affiliation: DuPont Nutrition & Health, Wilmington, DE, USA.
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kullen
authors.affiliation: Nestlé Nutrition, King of Prussia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Manjiang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Nestlé Nutrition, King of Prussia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Jodi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bettler
mesh_terms: D001834:Body Water / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007768:Lactalbumin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota / Q000187:drug effects*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D009844:Oligosaccharides; C120489:oligofructose; D007768:Lactalbumin
keywords: bifidobacteria; hydration; infant formula; microbiota; oligofructose; prebiotic; stool consistency; stool frequency; α-lactalbumin