Researchers from Europe have shown that supplementing the diets of formula-fed infants with a prebiotic solution helps boost their immunity to infection during the first six months of life. The results of this research were published in the Nov. issue of The Journal of Nutrition.
The researchers supplemented the diets of infants with a prebiotic-supplemented hypoallergenic formula (containing short-chain galactooligosaccharides and long-chain fructooligosaccharides), or a formula with a placebo, during the first six months of life. Results showed that infants fed the prebiotic-containing formula had a lower incidence of infections, including upper-respiratory-tract infections and those requiring antibiotic treatment. They also had a lower incidence of recurring infections.
They note that “although the exact mechanism of action is under investigation, it is very likely that the immune-modulating effect of this prebiotic mixture through intestinal flora modification is the principal mechanism for the observed infection prevention early in life.”
