Title: The clinical effect of a new infant formula in term infants with constipation: a double-blind, randomized cross-over trial.
| Authors: | Bongers ME, de Lorijn F, Reitsma JB, Groeneweg M, Taminiau JA, Benninga MA |
| Published: | 2007 |
| Journal: | Nutrition Journal |
Nutrilon Omneo (Treatment Formula) contains high concentration of sn-2 palmitic acid, a mixture of prebiotic oligosaccharides and partially hydrolyzed whey protein. It is hypothesized that the Treatment Formula positively affects stool characteristics in constipated infants.
Constipation was defined by at least one of the following symptoms: 1) defecation frequency < 3/week; 2) painful defecation; 3) abdominal or rectal palpable mass.
38 constipated infants, aged 3–20 weeks, were included and randomised to receive a Treatment Formula
(n = 20) or a Standard Formula (n = 18) in period 1 and crossed-over after 3 weeks to treatment period 2.
In our analysis infants receiving Treatment Formula showed more improvement of hard stools to soft stools than those fed Standard Formula, although significance was only reached in infants completing the cross-over study.
In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the use of an infant formula with a high proportion of sn-2 palmitate, a mixture of prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides and partially hydrolysed whey protein can lead to softer stools in constipated infants. Thus, constipated infants with hard stools may benefit from a change from Standard Formula to this Treatment Formula as a first treatment step,