Faecal SIgA secretion in infants fed on pre‐ or probiotic infant formula

Abstract

Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) plays an important role in the defence of the gastrointestinal tract. The level of faecal SIgA antibody is associated with increased neutralization and clearance of viruses. Formula-fed infants who lack the transfer of protective maternal SIgA from breast milk may benefit from strategies to support maturation of humoral immunity and endogenous production of SIgA. We aimed at studying the effects of standard, prebiotic and probiotic infant formulas on the faecal SIgA levels. At birth, infants of whom the mother had decided not to breastfeed were allocated to one of three formula groups in a randomized, double-blind fashion. Nineteen infants received standard infant formula; 19 received prebiotic formula containing a specific mixture of 0.6 g galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS)/fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS)/100 ml formula and 19 received probiotic formula containing 6.0 x 10(9) cfu Bifidobacterium animalis/100 ml formula. Faecal samples were taken on postnatal day 5, day 10, wk 4 and every 4 wk thereafter until wk 32. SIgA in faeces was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. During the intervention, infants fed on prebiotic formula showed a trend towards higher faecal SIgA levels compared with the standard formula-fed infants reaching statistical significance at the age of 16 wk. In contrast, infants fed on the probiotic formula showed a highly variable faecal SIgA concentration with no statistically significant differences compared with the standard formula group. Formula-fed infants may benefit from infant formulas containing a prebiotic mixture of GOS and FOS because of the observed clear tendency to increase faecal SIgA secretion. Adding viable B. animalis strain Bb-12 to infant formula did not reveal any sign for such a trend.

Prebiotics, immune function, infection and inflammation: a review of the evidence

“…In the same study, there was no effect of the combination of OF and IN upon salivary secretory IgA levels (60) . In newborn infants supplemented with a mixture of GOS and IN with shorter-chain FOS removed in their formula, an increase in faecal secretory IgA levels was seen (65) , which fits with the findings from animal studies which show an enhancement of the antibody response in the GALT by prebiotics (47,49,51 -53) .…”

“…In the same study, there was no effect of the combination of OF and IN upon salivary secretory IgA levels (60) . In newborn infants supplemented with a mixture of GOS and IN with shorter-chain FOS removed in their formula, an increase in faecal secretory IgA levels was seen (65) , which fits with the findings from animal studies which show an enhancement of the antibody response in the GALT by prebiotics (47,49,51 -53) .The antibody response to vaccination is considered to be the gold standard for measuring the functioning of the immune system in vivo, based on its biological relevance, sensitivity and practical feasibility (70) . Thus several human studies use this marker, but these have generated mixed results.…”

Efficacy of oral administration of lactic acid bacteria isolated from cocoa in a fermented milk preparation: reduction of colitis in an experimental rat model

“…The activity of IgA may limit the contact of the normal microbiota with the epithelium, reducing the chances of activating a destructive inflammatory response (Suzuki et al, 2007). The increased serum and secretory levels of IgA are elevated after treatment with probiotics (Bakker-Zierikzee et al, 2006;Seifert et al, 2011). We believe that the probiotic effect of the LAB strains used in this study is related to IgA action, and acts by restoration of the acetic acid-damaged epithelial barrier.…”

Development of the Immune System - Early Nutrition and Consequences for Later Life

“…In another clinical study, using the scGOS/lcFOS mixture, fecal secretory IgA was increased in healthy infants (Bakker-Zierikzee, Tol et al 2006). Also in healthy infants there is cumulative evidence that prebiotic mixtures might beneficially affect the host in both Th1 as well as Th2 prone settings as it might prevent food allergy (Th2) and enhances the vaccination response (Th1).…”