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[Bifidobacteria colonization in diversely-fed newborn infants]
Insights
Different infant formulas vary in their ability to stimulate bifidobacteria (Bif.) growth, impacting fecal pH. The study suggests focusing on how buffering capacity is achieved, not just its level, for optimal Bif. colonization.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infant Nutrition
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Breast-fed infants exhibit unique gut microbiota, including high levels of bifidobacteria (Bif.).
- Artificial feeding formulas aim to mimic these beneficial microbial characteristics.
- Understanding factors influencing Bif. colonization in formula-fed infants is crucial for health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the capacity of various infant formulas to stimulate bifidobacteria (Bif.) growth.
- To compare this growth-stimulating capacity with fecal pH and milk buffering capacity.
- To investigate the relationship between formula properties and infant gut microbiota development.
Main Methods:
- Infants were divided into groups based on diet: one breast-fed and five artificially-fed.
- Fecal specimens were collected and analyzed at specific days of life (4th, 11th, 18th).
- Bifidobacteria colonization, fecal pH, and milk buffering capacity were measured.
Main Results:
- Different formulas demonstrated varying capacities to stimulate Bif. growth, affecting both colonization percentage and bacterial amount.
- A correlation was observed between a formula's Bif.-stimulating capacity and the resulting fecal pH in infants.
- No clear relationship was found between Bif. growth stimulation and the absolute buffering capacity of the milk formulas.
Conclusions:
- Formula composition significantly influences bifidobacteria (Bif.) colonization in infants.
- Fecal pH appears to be a more relevant indicator than milk buffering capacity for predicting Bif. growth.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind buffering capacity's impact on Bif. colonization.
Abstract:
The aim of this work is to analyse the capacity of several formulas of stimulating the growth of bifidobacteria (Bif.), as these formulas may induced an approach to the intestinal microbiological peculiarities of breast-fed infants. This capacity has been compared with the fecal pH (fig. 2) in the various groups of artificially-fed infants and with the buffering capacity (fig. 1 a. 3) of the different milks. Six group of infants fed the following milks feed were examined: one breast-fed and five artificially-fed (table 1). Fecal specimens were examined at the 4th, 11th and 18th day of life. It is pointed out that different formulas have different capacity of stimulating the growth of Bif., both in the percentage of colonized subjects and in the developed amount of Bif. (tab. 2). It is exhibited a mutual relation between this capacity of a food and the fecal pH (fig. 3) in newborn infants fed on this food. On the contrary it is not easy to find a clear relation between the capacity of growth of Bif. and the buffering properties of a milk: two of the tested milks have nearly the same buffering capacity but allow completely different colonisation (fig. 1 a. 3). It is suggested that if this mutual relation was real, we must think of "how" this buffer capacity is realized and not of its absolute value. Although several Authors proved that there is a "in vitro" antagonism between Bif. and E. coli, it is not confirmed this statement "in vivo" (fig. 2 a. 3).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)