Effect of a fermented infant formula containing viable bifidobacteria on the fecal flora composition and pH of healthy full-term infants. Effect of a Fermented Formula on Thymus Size and Stool pH in Healthy Term Infants Immunomodulation of human blood cells following the ingestion of lactic acid bacteria. Effects of Long-term Consumption of a Fermented Infant Formula (with Bifidobacterium breve c50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065) on Acute Diarrhea in Healthy Infants A non-hydrolyzed, fermented milk formula reduces digestive and respiratory events in infants at high risk of allergy Spontaneously fermented millet product as a natural probiotic treatment for diarrhoea in young children: an intervention study in Northern Ghana. Low level of galacto-oligosaccharide in infant formula stimulates growth of intestinal Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli. Modulation of nonspecific mechanisms of defense by lactic acid bacteria: effective dose.
We assessed the growth , tolerance , and acceptability as well as fecal flora composition and stool pH of 20 healthy full-term infants fed with a fermented whey-adapted infant formula containing viable bifidobacteria ( 10(6)/g of powder ) during the first 2 months of life . This fermented infant formula , first biologically acidified by Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus helveticus , was compared to a whey-adapted , nonacidified , low-phosphate infant formula in a double-blind , r and omized controlled study . The results were compared to a control group ( n = 14 ) of fully breast-fed infants . The fermented whey-adapted formula containing viable bifidobacteria induced a prevalence of colonization with bifidobacteria at 1 month of age similar to that of breast-fed infants ( 12/20 versus 8/14 ) but significantly higher than in the group fed the st and ard infant formula ( 4/20 ) . The mean bacterial count of bifidobacteria was similar in all colonized infants ; however , fecal pH was significantly lower in the breast-fed infants than in the nonacidified bottle-fed infants . This kind of infant formula was well tolerated and promoted a normal growth during the first 2 months To investigate the effects of fermented formula ( FF ) with Bifidobacterium breve C50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065 on thymus size and stool pH of healthy term infants , ultrasound examinations and evaluations of thymus sizes and thymus indices ( TI ) and measurements of stool pH were performed in the same 90 term neonates on the 3rd d of life and on the 1st , 2nd , 3rd , and 4th mo of life . Thirty newborns were exclusively breast-fed while the remaining 60 were r and omly assigned to receive either a FF or a st and ard formula ( SF ) . The fecal pH of the breast-fed group was lower than the SF group ( p < 0.05 ) , although it was similar to that of the FF group on the third postnatal day , persisting for the entire 4 mo of the study . The difference in TI was statistically significant over repeated measurements among the groups . The FF infants showed a TI similar to the breast-fed newborns . Probiotic fermentation products have effects comparable to those of the bacteria composing the intestinal microflora supporting the idea that intestinal bacterial balance plays an important role in improving host immune responses Because of the lack of data that convincingly show immunomodulatory properties of lactic acid bacteria in humans , a study was performed in which healthy volunteers were divided into two groups and given a fermented milk product supplemented with Lactobacillus acidophilus strain La1 or Bifidobacterium bifidum strain Bb 12 for 3 wk . Blood was sample d throughout the study to assess changes in lymphocyte subsets or leukocyte phagocytic activity following consumption of the fermented products . No modifications of lymphocyte sub population s were detected . In contrast , phagocytosis of Escherichia coli sp. in vitro was enhanced after the administration of both fermented products . The increment in phagocytosis was coincident with fecal colonization by the lactic acid bacteria and persisted for 6 wk after ingestion of the fermented products . By this time , the fecal lactobacilli and bifidobacteria had returned to concentrations prior to consumption . Nonspecific , anti-infective mechanisms of defense can be enhanced by the ingestion of specific lactic acid bacteria strains . These strains can be used as nutritional supplements to improve the immune function of particular age groups , i.e. , the neonate or the elderly , for which these functions are diminished Objective : To determine whether long-term consumption of a fermented infant formula could influence the incidence of  acute diarrhea  and its severity in healthy infants . Method : Nine hundred seventy-one infants , ranging in age from 4 to 6 months , were included in a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial during a period of 5 months . They consumed daily either a fermented infant formula ( FF ) ( fermentation with Bifidobacterium breve C50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065 ) or a st and ard infant formula ( SF ) of the same nutritional composition . Evaluation Criteria : Number and duration of acute diarrhea episodes were evaluated . Severity of the episodes was determined by the number of hospital admissions , incidence of dehydration , number of medical consultations , number of oral rehydration solution prescriptions , and number of formula switches . Results : Growth of the infants and acceptability of the formulas were identical in the two groups . Incidence , duration of diarrhea episodes , and number of hospital admissions did not differ significantly between groups . Episodes were less severe in the FF ( fermented formula ) group . There were fewer cases of dehydration 2.5%versus 6.1 % ( P = 0.01 ) , fewer medical consultations ( 46%v 56.6 % , P = 0.003 ) , fewer ORS prescriptions 41.9%v 51.9 % ( P = 0.003 ) and fewer switches to other formulas ( 59.5%v 74.9 % , P = 0.0001 ) in FF infants compared to SF . Conclusion : A fermented formula may reduce the severity of acute diarrhea among healthy young infants . This outcome may be linked to the bifidogenic effects of fermentation products and their interactions with the intestinal immune system Background / Objectives : To determine the impact of a not hydrolyzed fermented infant formula containing heat-killed Bifidobacterium breve C50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065 ( HKBBST ) on the incidence of allergy-like events during the first 2 years of life in children at high risk of atopy . Subjects/ Methods : This multicenter , r and omized , double-blind , controlled study included infants at high risk of atopy . Infants used HKBBST or a st and ard infant formula ( SIF ) since birth until 1 year of age , and were followed at 4 , 12 and 24 months after birth .  Skin prick tests ( SPTs ) for six foods and six aeroallergens were systematic ally performed and adverse events ( AEs ) were recorded . In case of potentially allergic AE ( PAAE ) , allergy could be further tested by SPT , patch tests and quantification of specific IgEs . If cow 's milk allergy ( CMA ) was suspected , an oral challenge could also be performed . Results : The study included 129 children , 63 were r and omized to SIF , 66 to HKBBST . The use of HKBBST milk did not alter the proportion of CMA but decreased the proportion of positive SPT to cow 's milk ( 1.7 vs 12.5 % , P=0.03 ) , and the incidence of digestive ( 39 vs 63 % , P=0.01 ) and respiratory potentially allergic AEs ( 7 vs 21 % , P=0.03 ) at 12 months , and that of respiratory PAAEs at 24 months ( 13 vs 35 % , P=0.01 ) . Conclusions : HKBBST decreased the incidence of PAAEs in children with family history of atopy , during the first months of life and after the formula was stopped . Oral tolerance to cow 's milk in infants at high risk of atopy may therefore be improved using not hydrolyzed fermented formulae Indigenous lactic acid fermented foods may have potential as probiotic treatment for diarrhoea , due to high levels of lactic acid bacteria . In this study the effect of a millet drink , spontaneously fermented by lactic acid bacteria , as a therapeutic agent among Ghanaian children with diarrhoea , was assessed . Children below 5 years of age coming to Northern Ghana health clinics for treatment of diarrhoea were r and omised to two groups . Children of both groups received treatment for diarrhoea given at the local clinic . The intervention group in addition received up to 300 ml fermented millet drink ( KSW ) daily for 5 days after enrolment . The clinical outcome of diarrhoea and reported well-being were registered every day for the 5-day intervention and again 14 days after diagnosis . Among 184 children ( mean age 17.4 , st and ard deviation 11.3 months ) included , no effects of the intervention were found with respect to stool frequency , stool consistency and duration of diarrhoea . However , KSW was associated with greater reported well-being 14 days after the start of the intervention ( P=0.02 ) . The fact that no effect of KSW on diarrhoea was observed could be because many children had a mild form of diarrhoea , and many were treated with antibiotics . Either this could have affected the lactic acid bacteria , or the lactic acid bacteria in KSW had no probiotic effects . It is speculated that the effect after two weeks could be due to a preventing effect of KSW on antibiotic-associated diarrhoea which could help reducing persistent diarrhoea AIM To investigate the effect of a new infant formula supplemented with a low level ( 0.24 g/100 mL ) of galacto-oligosaccharide ( GOS ) on intestinal micro-flora ( Bifidobacteria , Lactobacilli and E. coli ) and fermentation characteristics in term infants , compared with human milk and a st and ard infant formula without GOS . METHODS Term infants ( n = 371 ) were approached in this study in three hospitals of China . All infants started breast-feeding . Those who changed to formula-feeding within 4 wk after birth were r and omly assigned to one of the two formula groups . Growth and stool characteristics , and side effects that occurred in recruited infants were recorded in a 3-mo follow-up period . Fecal sample s were collected from a sub population of recruited infants for analysis of intestinal bacteria ( culture technique ) , acetic acid ( gas chromatography ) and pH ( indicator strip ) . RESULTS After 3 mo , the intestinal Bifidobacteria , Lactobacilli , acetic acid and stool frequency were significantly increased , and fecal pH was decreased in infants fed with the GOS-formula or human milk , compared with those fed with the formula without GOS . No significant differences were observed between the GOS formula and human milk groups . Supplementation with GOS did not influence the incidence of crying , regurgitation and vomiting . CONCLUSION A low level of GOS ( 0.24 g/100 mL ) in infant formula can improve stool frequency , decrease fecal pH , and stimulate intestinal Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli as in those fed with human milk The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a fermented milk product containing Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 ( formerly known as Lactobacillus acidophilus La1 ) on the phagocytic activity of peripheral blood leukocytes in healthy adult volunteers . Furthermore , we sought to define the effective doses of the bacteria , examine the effect on respiratory burst activity , and , finally , examine the contribution made by the starter culture to the biological effects . Volunteers were r and omly distributed among three groups ; each subject received one pot ( 150 ml ) of fermented milk each day for 3 wk . The first two groups received a freshly prepared product fermented by Streptococcus thermophilus ( group A ) alone or S. thermophilus and 10(7 ) cfu/ml L. johnsonii La1 ( group B ) . Group C received a product stored for a period of 21 to 28 d and that contained S. thermophilus and 10(6 ) cfu/ml of L. johnsonii La1 . Ingestion of L. johnsonii La1 did not significantly increase fecal lactobacilli counts . However , L. johnsonii La1 was able to survive intestinal transit and was only recovered from the feces of the volunteers of groups B and C. The fermented base alone showed a weak effect on respiratory burst but not on phagocytic activity . However , the product containing 10(7 ) cfu/ml L. johnsonii La1 significantly enhanced both functions . The product containing 10(6 ) cfu/ml of L. johnsonii La1 had no significant effect on either function . These results suggest that fecal persistence may not necessarily reflect in vivo colonization and may not be a prerequisite for all forms of immune reactivity
Fermented formula has the potential to reduce some , albeit not well-defined , digestive symptoms .
Current evidence does not support the use of fermented formula for preventing cow ’s milk allergy .
Conclusion : Limited available evidence suggests that the use of fermented infant formula , compared with the use of st and ard infant formula , does not offer clear additional benefits , although some benefit on gastrointestinal symptoms can not be excluded .
What is new• Limited evidence available suggests that the use of fermented infant formula , compared with the use of st and ard infant formula , does not offer clear additional benefits , although some benefit on gastrointestinal symptoms can not be excluded .
At the same time , no negative health effects have been documented
Abstract Fermented formulas , i.e. , those fermented with lactic acid-producing bacteria during the production process and not containing significant amounts of viable bacteria in the final product , are widely available in many countries .
Our aim was to systematic ally review published evidence related to the safety and health effects of the administration of fermented infant formulas compared with st and ard infant formulas .