Title: Supplementation of a bovine milk formula with an oligosaccharide mixture increases counts of faecal bifidobacteria in preterm infants
| Authors: | Boehm, G., Lidestri, M., Casetta, P., Jelinek, J., Negretti, F., Stahl, B., & Marini, A |
| Published: | 2002 |
| Journal: | Archives of Disease in Childhood-Fetal and Neonatal Edition |
As the establishment of a balanced intestinal microbiota may protect against infection and thus is found to be desirable for the preterm infant, this study investigated the effect of a preterm formula milk supplement consisting of oligosaccharides (in similar proportions to breast milk) on the fecal flora and stool characteristics of preterm infants. The study concluded that supplementing preterm formula with a mixture of GOS/FOS (at a concentration of 10 g/L) stimulates the growth of bifidobacteria in the intestine and results in stool characteristics similar to those found in preterm infant breast milk. Therefore, prebiotic mixtures may help improve intestinal tolerance through enteral feeding in preterm infants.