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Kindly provide studies/ journals on Orafti Inulin & Oligofructose that help in supporting the microbiota composition, increasing levels of bifidobacteria, softening stools & strengthening the immune system for infant & young children

November 2, 2020
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The beneficial effects of inulin and oligofructose on the intestinal microbiota have been well- demonstrated in adults. In healthy newborns and young children, studies also examined the use of formulas supplemented with prebiotics. Benefits of long-chain fructan polysaccharides (i.e., long-chain inulin and fructooligosaccharides (FOS)) includes improvement in the gut flora composition with greater bifidobacterium abundance, softer stool consistency as well as establishing positive effect on the immune system.

Authors Findings & Description
Oswari et al., 2019
  • 142 healthy formula-fed infants aged 3-5 months were subjected to a 4 weeks feeding period by administering either formula-A (no inulin), formula-B (0.2 g/100 mL inulin) or formula-C (0.4 g/100 mL inulin)
  • A consistent prebiotic effect along with a decrease in pH and increase in %-bifidobacteria and %-lactobacilli was found only in the group administered 0.4 g inulin/100 mL
Lohner et al., 2018
  • 142 boys and 128 girls aged 3–6 years were randomly allocated to consume 6 g/d of Orafti inulin-type fructan or maltodextrin for 24 weeks
  • Inulin-type fructans have been shown to promote microbiota composition including higher bifidobacterium abundance and stool consistency closer to those of breastfed infants
  • Beneficial effects on fever occurrence, diarrhea and incidence of infections requiring antibiotic treatment in infants
Closa-Monasterolo et al., 2016
  • 22 constipated children age 2-5 years were received two daily doses of 2g Orafti inulin-type fructans or placebo (maltodextrin) for 6 weeks
  • Results showed that Orafti inulin-type fructans supplemented children had softer stools and improves stool consistency
Chen et al., 2016
  • 30 children age 1.5-3 years old were given initial 1 week of consuming formula without prebiotics (control period), an administration period of 6 weeks of consuming 240 mL of the 3-prebiotic formula including inulin, fructooligosaccharides, and galactooligosaccharides) 3 times a day, and 1-week of follow-up with the original formula without prebiotics
  • Total intake of 1.8 g/day prebiotic ingredients significantly showed the increased number of probiotic Bifidobacterium spp. colonies; significant increase of total organic acids in the fecal samples
  • Using the formula enriched with prebiotic may maintain gut health in toddlers
Bäckhed et al., 2015
  • Gut microbiomes of 98 mothers and their infants during the first year of life was assessed
  • The microbiota of formula-fed babies contains more diverse species resembling an adult-like microbiota and this is influenced by the presence of prebiotics in the formula milk
Vandenplas et al., 2014
  • Infants on these supplemented formula (galacto-oligosaccharides, fructo-oligosaccharide, polydextrose or their mixtures) have a lower stool pH, a better stool consistency, frequency and a higher concentration of bifidobacteria in their intestine compared to infants on a non-supplemented standard formula
  • A larger number of bifidobacteria may promote postnatal maturation of the immune system, and therefore protect against infection and allergy
Paineau et al., 2014
  • 61 healthy formula-fed infants were randomized to receive either the scFOS-supplemented formula (4 g/L scFOS) or the placebo-supplemented formula (4 g/L maltodextrins) until the age of 4 months
  • Change in faecal bifidobacteria after 2 months were higher with scFOS compared to the placebo
  • At 4 months, specific IgA tended to be higher with the scFOS group than with the placebo which suggest a positive effect on the immune system
  • This study confirms that scFOS-supplemented formula can increase the concentration of faecal bifidobacteria while being well tolerated
Ivakhnenko & Nyankovskyy, 2013
  • 3 studied groups: 80 infants who were breastfed, 80 infants consuming the formula supplemented with oligosaccharides, 80 infants fed with a standard formula
  • In infants fed with formula supplemented with GOS/FOS (0.8 g/100 mL)., fecal concentrations of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli were significantly higher than infants fed with the standard formula and had significantly less allergic reactions to food products compared to the control infants
  • This effect may reduce the risk of allergic and infectious diseases in children aged up to 18 months of life, compared with babies fed with the standard formula without oligosaccharides
Arslanoglu et al., 2012
  • 92 healthy term infants at risk of atopy were fed either a prebiotic-supplemented (0.8 g/100 ml scGOS/lcFOS) or placebo-supplemented (0.8 g/100 ml maltodextrin) hypoallergenic formula during the first 6 months of life where follow-up continued until 5 years of life
  • The 5-years cumulative incidences of any allergic manifestation and atopic dermatitis were significantly lower in the scGOS/lcFOS group compared to placebo

 

References

Arslanoglu, S., Moro, G. E., Boehm, G., Wienz, F., Stahl, B., & Bertino, E. (2012). Early neutral prebiotic oligosaccharide supplementation reduces the incidence of some allergic manifestations in the first 5 years of life. Journal of Biological Regulators & Homeostatic Agents. 26(3S):49-59.

Bäckhed, F., Roswall, J., Peng, Y., Feng, Q., Jia, H., & Kovatcheva-Datchary, P. et al. (2015). Dynamics and Stabilization of the Human Gut Microbiome during the First Year of Life. Cell Host & Microbe, 17(5), 690-703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2015.04.004

Chen, Y., Liao, F., Lin, S., & Chien, Y. (2016). A Prebiotic Formula Improves the Gastrointestinal Bacterial Flora in Toddlers. Gastroenterology Research And Practice, 2016, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/3504282

Closa-Monasterolo, R., Ferré, N., Castillejo-DeVillasante, G., Luque, V., Gispert-Llaurado, M., & Zaragoza-Jordana, M. et al. (2016). The use of inulin-type fructans improves stool consistency in constipated children. A randomised clinical trial: pilot study. International Journal Of Food Sciences And Nutrition, 68(5), 587-594. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637486.2016.1263605

Ivakhnenko, O. S., & Nyankovskyy, S. L. (2013). Effect of the specific infant formula mixture of oligosaccharides on local immunity and development of allergic and infectious disease in young children: randomized study. Pediatria Polska, 88(5), 398-404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pepo.2013.07.002

Lohner, S., Jakobik, V., Mihályi, K., Soldi, S., Vasileiadis, S., & Theis, S. et al. (2018). Inulin-Type Fructan Supplementation of 3- to 6-Year-Old Children Is Associated with Higher FecalBifidobacteriumConcentrations and Fewer Febrile Episodes Requiring Medical Attention. The Journal Of Nutrition, 148(8), 1300-1308. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxy120

Oswari, H., Widodo, A., Handayani, F., Juffrie, M., Sundjaya, T., Bindels, J., & Hegar, B. (2019). Dosage-Related Prebiotic Effects of Inulin in Formula-Fed Infants. Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, 22(1), 63. https://doi.org/10.5223/pghn.2019.22.1.63

Paineau, D., Respondek, F., Menet, V., Sauvage, R., Bornet, F., & Wagner, A. (2014). Effects of Short-Chain Fructooligosaccharides on Faecal Bifidobacteria and Specific Immune Response in Formula-Fed Term Infants: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Journal Of Nutritional Science And Vitaminology, 60(3), 167-175. https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.60.167

Vandenplas, Y., Greef, E., & Veereman, G. (2014). Prebiotics in infant formula. Gut Microbes, 5(6), 681-687. https://doi.org/10.4161/19490976.2014.972237