Prebiotic Effect of Native Inulin also Proven in Formula-fed Babies
The consumption of inulin increased the content of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in the faeces of formula-fed babies, without affecting the number of Bacteroides or the total anaerobic count.
16/09/06 In a recent study, performed by the Korea Food and Nutrition Foundation and Sensus, the effects of native Frutafit inulin in formula-fed babies have been investigated. A study group of 14 babies (with an average age of 12.6 weeks (± 6.4 weeks) were given a daily dosage of 0.25 grams per kilo body weight per day, for 3 weeks, followed by 3 weeks without or vice versa. The average intake of inulin was 1.5 (± 0.3) grams per day.
The consumption of inulin increased the content of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in the faeces of formula-fed babies, without affecting the number of Bacteroides or the total anaerobic count. With inulin the amount of faeces increased significantly and there was a trend for stools to become softer. Frequency of defecation was not affected by the consumption of inulin. No adverse effects were reported during the periods of inulin consumption. This proves that, with native inulin, a prebiotic effect can be observed in formula-fed babies. Inulin may therefore be a useful ingredient in infant food formulae.
Sensus write that these results show for the first time that inulin not only has a bifidogenic effect in adults, as has been described extensively, but also in formula-fed babies. The complete study is to be published in Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, beginning of 2007.
