Effect of iron on neonatal gut flora during the first three months of life

Abstract

To study the effect of milk supplemented with iron on neonatal gut flora, faecal specimens of ten infants receiving breast milk, six receiving a cow-milk preparation supplemented with iron (5 mg/l) and seven receiving the same product without iron supplement (iron concentration less than 0.5 mg/l) were examined during the first 12 weeks of life. In breast-fed infants bifidobacteria was predominant, counts of Escherichia coli were low, and other bacteria were rarely present. Infants receiving fortified cow-milk preparation had high counts of Escherichia coli, counts and isolation frequency of bifidobacteria were low and other bacteria were frequently isolated. In those on unfortified cow-milk preparation isolation frequency of Escherichia coli, bifidobacteria and bacteroides was comparable with that in breast-fed infants; however, counts of Escherichia coli were high. It is concluded that the faecal flora of infants fed unfortified cow-milk preparation acquires characteristics of that found in breast-fed infants.

Iron Deficiency and Renal Development in the Newborn Rat

“…Although gastrostomy does not seem to cause intestinal water retention or inflammation, artificial formula has been shown to cause hyperplasia of intestinal villi and accelerated maturation of enzyme activity (14). Cow's milk proteins or iron supplementation may contribute to elevated CRP because it alters intestinal flora (41,42).…”

Role of Calf-Adapted Escherichia coli in Maintenance of Antimicrobial Drug Resistance in Dairy Calves

“…Others have shown that some adhesin genes have higher prevalence in the E. coli flora of younger calves (10,23,34), and adhesin genes have also been found on plasmids that also encode antimicrobial drug resistance genes (14,30,47,48). Lactoferrin is an abundant iron chelator in milk, and iron is required for bacterial growth (37,52). Iron acquisition genes (aerobactin and enterobactin) have been associated with plasmids that also encode antimicrobial drug resistance genes (7,11,13,18).…”

Role of colonic scavengers of unabsorbed carbohydrates in infants and children.

“…Many dietary factors playa major role on determining the characteristics of the fecal flora. The effects of iron supplementation on the fecal flora were studied by Mevissen-Verhage et al [3]. In breast-fed infants, bifidobacteria was predominant, counts of Escherichia coli were low, and other bacteria were rarely present.…”

“…Short chain fatty acids (SCFA), mainly acetic, propionic, and butyric acid, together with gases such as carbon dioxide (C0 2 ) , hydrogen (H 2 ) , and methane (CH 3 ) are the main byproducts of CHO fermentation (Fig. 3).…”