In many countries, infant cereals are one of the first foods introduced during the complementary feeding stage. These cereals are usually made with refined cereal flours, even though several health benefits have been linked to the intake of whole grain cereals. Prior evidence suggests that food preferences are developed at early stages of life, and may persist in later childhood and adulthood. Our aim was to test whether an infant cereal with 30% of whole grain was similarly accepted both by parents and infants in comparison to a similar cereal made from refined flour. A total of 81 infants between 4 and 24 months old were included in the study. Parent-infant pairs participated in an 8-day experimental study. Acceptance was rated on hedonic scales (4-points for infants and 7-points for parents). Other attributes like color, smell, and taste were evaluated by the parents. Acceptability for infant cereals with whole grain and refined cereals was very similar both for infants (2.30 ± 0.12 and 2.32 ± 0.11, p = 0.606) and parents (6.1 ± 0.8 and 6.0 ± 0.9, p = 0.494). Therefore, our findings show that there is an opportunity to introduce whole grain cereals to infants, including those who are already used to consuming refined infant cereals, thereby accelerating the exposure of whole grain in early life.

Obesity has reached pandemia levels and is becoming a serious health problem in industrialized countries. Intestinal microbiota is considered a main factor of body weight and fat mass, which points toward a critical role in the development of obesity and its complications. The effects of Lactobacillus (L.) paracasei CNCM I-4034 feeding on the immune system and glucidic metabolism in a genetic model of obesity were investigated. Obese and lean Zucker rats were used. Animals received orally either 10 10 CFU of L. paracasei CNCM I-4034 or a placebo for 1 month. After the intervention period samples of serum, intestinal mucosa and feces were taken. Parameters related with glycidic metabolism and inflammation markers were measured in the serum. A differential gene expression (DNA array) study and a histological evaluation were carried out in the intestinal samples. Total IgA content was quantified in the faeces. No alteration compared with regular intestinal histology was observed in the mucosa or any other layer of the ileum or colon in any of the experimental groups, which suggests that the probiotic did not alter the morphology of this organ. Nor did serum glucose, insulin, leptin and adiponectin concentrations change. Expression of 45 intestinal genes was affected by feeding with the probiotic strain. Serum concentrations of CCL2, MIP-1a, IL-2 and IL-18 increased in obese rats fed L. paracasei CNCM I-4034. In contrast, IL-6 concentration decreased. A greater content of total IgA was found in the feces of the rats that received the probiotic strain. Our results suggest that L. paracasei CNCM I-4034 stimulated the immune response in the intestine of obese rats, which could be beneficial to defeat infections.