title: Response on Pneumococcal Vaccine in Preterm Infants After Neutral and Acidic Oligosaccharides Supplementation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Supplementation of oligosaccharides in premature infants was shown to influence the immune system. We determined the effect of combined short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides (scGOS), long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (lcFOS) and pectin-derived acidic oligosaccharides (pAOS) on antibody concentrations after pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in very preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Very preterm infants with gestational age <32 weeks and/or birth weight <1500 g were randomized to receive enteral supplementation with scGOS/lcFOS/pAOS or placebo between days 3 and 30 of life. Blood samples were collected at birth, 5 and 12 months of age and compared with term samples from a Dutch cross-sectional population-based serosurveillance study. IgG antibody levels to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides were determined by multiplex immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 113 preterm infants were included with similar baseline and nutritional characteristics in both groups. After 3 primary pneumococcal vaccinations, the scGOS/lcFOS/pAOS-group had lower GMC antibody concentrations (µg/mL; serotype 4: 1.53, 6B:0.25, 9V: 1.19, 14: 2.39, 18C: 1.88, 19F: 7.42, 23F: 0.72) than the placebo group (serotype 4: 3.29, 6B: 0.79, 9V:2.64, 14: 4.52, 18C: 3.13, 19F: 14.64, 23F: 1.88; all P < 0.05), but comparable with those in the term control group (serotype 4: 0.97, 6B: 0.32, 9V: 1.67, 14: 3.24, 18C: 2.03, 19F: 5.06, 23F: 0.59; all P > 0.05). After the booster vaccination at 11 months, antibody levels were no longer different between the two preterm groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enteral supplementation of scGOS/lcFOS/pAOS has a regulatory effect on the response to conjugated polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine with normalization of the enhanced responses in preterm infants toward levels similar to healthy term infants.
authors.affiliation: From the *Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; †Laboratory for Infectious Diseases and Screening, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands; ‡Division of Immunology and Infectious diseases, Department of Paediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital of the University Medical Center Utrecht; and §Centre for Specialised Nutrition, Nutricia Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jolice P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: Elisabeth A M
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Westerbeek
authors.forename: Fiona R M
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: van der Klis
authors.forename: Elisabeth A M
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Guy A M
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Berbers
authors.forename: Ruurd M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: van Elburg
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010919:Placebos / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010919:Placebos