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Effect of a fermented formula on thymus size and stool pH in healthy term infants

Flavia Indrio1, Grazia Ladisa, Angela Mautone

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology Division, University of Bari, Policlinico Piazza G. Cesare, 70124 Bari, Italy. f.indrio@neonatologia.uniba.it

Pediatric Research
|May 23, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Fermented formula (FF) with specific probiotics, including Bifidobacterium breve C50, supported infant thymus index (TI) and stool pH similarly to breast milk. This suggests a role for gut bacteria in immune response development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Infant gut microbiota plays a crucial role in immune system development.
  • Fermented formulas (FF) contain probiotics that may influence gut health.
  • Thymus size and stool pH are indicators of infant health and gut environment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of a fermented formula (FF) with Bifidobacterium breve C50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065 on thymus size and stool pH in healthy term infants.
  • To compare the effects of FF with breast milk and standard formula (SF).

Main Methods:

  • Ultrasound examinations for thymus size and thymus index (TI) measurements.
  • Stool pH measurements.
  • Study included 90 term neonates, with groups for breast-fed, FF, and SF.
  • Measurements taken on the 3rd day of life and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months of life.

Main Results:

  • Fecal pH was lower in breast-fed infants compared to SF infants (p < 0.05).
  • Fecal pH in the FF group was similar to the breast-fed group throughout the 4-month study.
  • Thymus index (TI) showed statistically significant differences among groups over time.
  • FF infants exhibited a TI comparable to breast-fed newborns.

Conclusions:

  • Fermented formula (FF) with Bifidobacterium breve C50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065 demonstrates effects on infant thymus size and stool pH similar to breast milk.
  • These findings support the hypothesis that intestinal bacterial balance, influenced by probiotics, is important for enhancing host immune responses in infants.

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