Oligofructose-supplemented infant cereal: 2 randomized, blinded, community-based trials in Peruvian infants.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Prebiotics are nondigestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth of Bifidobacterium and other bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Improved gastrointestinal and other health effects have been attributed to them.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with the prebiotic oligofructose with and without zinc on the prevalence of diarrhea in a community with a high burden of gastrointestinal and other infections.

DESIGN:

Two consecutive randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trials were performed in a shantytown community near Lima, Peru. The first trial compared an infant cereal supplemented with oligofructose (0.55 g/15 g cereal) with nonsupplemented cereal. During the second trial, zinc (1 mg/15 g cereal) was added to both oligofructose-supplemented and control cereals.

RESULTS:

We enrolled 282 infants in the first trial and 349 in the second. In the first trial, mean (+/- SD) days of diarrhea were 10.3 +/- 9.6 in the nonsupplemented cereal group and 9.8 +/- 11.0 in the prebiotic-supplemented cereal group (P = 0.66). In the second trial, mean days of diarrhea were 10.3 +/- 8.9 in the group consuming cereal fortified only with zinc and 9.5 +/- 8.9 in the group consuming cereal containing both zinc and prebiotics (P = 0.35). Postimmunization titers of antibody to Haemophilus influenzae type B were similar in all groups, as were gains in height, visits to clinic, hospitalizations, and use of antibiotics.

CONCLUSIONS:

Cereal supplemented with prebiotics was not associated with any change in diarrhea prevalence, use of health care resources, or response to H. influenzae type B immunization. Infants and young children who continue to breast-feed may not benefit from prebiotic supplementation.

• Authors: Christopher Duggan, Mary E Penny, Patricia Hibberd, Ana Gil, Ana Huapaya, Andrew Cooper, Frances Coletta, Curt Emenhiser, Ronald E Kleinman
• Journal: The American journal of clinical nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr) Vol. 77 Issue 4 Pg. 937-42 (Apr 2003) ISSN: 0002-9165 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12663295 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• Haemophilus Vaccines
• Oligosaccharides
• oligofructose
• Zinc

Topics

• Antibodies, Bacterial (blood)
• Community Health Services
• Diarrhea (epidemiology)
• Edible Grain
• Female
• Food, Fortified
• Haemophilus Vaccines
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (immunology)
• Humans
• Immunization
• Infant
• Infant Food
• Male
• Oligosaccharides (administration & dosage)
• Peru (epidemiology)
• Probiotics
• Zinc (administration & dosage)