Probiotics and immunity in infants

[Guest guest]

I am posting this to show the benefit of probiotics only. Of course people

should not use formulas under normal conditions but should breastfeed.

 

Frank

 

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/include/newsletter/emailRU_050704/RUa2_050704.htm\

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Probiotics and immunity in infants

 

 

Infants can safely consume probiotic bacteria and experience a reduction in

colic and irritability, according to a study completed at Johns Hopkins

University School of medicine.

 

Researchers noted that “nonpathogenic live bacteria are consumed as food by many

children, particularly in the form of yogurt.” They added however that “the

tolerance and safety of long-term consumption of specific types and strains of

probiotic bacteria are not well documented.”

 

To establish tolerance and safety, researchers conducted a double-blind,

randomized, placebo-controlled study. “The goal was to evaluate tolerance to

formulas containing two levels of probiotic supplementation and effects on

growth, general clinical status and intestinal health in free-living healthy

infants.”

 

The study included 118 infants ranging in age between three and 24 months. The

participants were assigned to receive a standard milk-based formula containing

equal doses of Bifidobacterium lactis and Streptococcus thermophilus, or a

formula containing lower doses of each strain of bacteria or an unsupplemented

formula. The study lasted 210 days during which none of the infants were

breast-fed.

 

According to researchers, the supplemented formulas were well accepted and were

associated with a lower frequency of reported colic or irritability and a lower

frequency of antibiotic use than was the unsupplemented formula. They concluded

that “long-term consumption of formulas supplemented with B. lactis and S.

thermophilus was well tolerated and safe.”

 

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 79(2):261-267, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

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