Influence of two infant formulas and human milk on the development of the faecal flora in newborn infants

Abstract

The establishment of the faecal flora of 39 full-term infants fed exclusively on breast milk (n = 20) or with two different modern adapted cow's milk formulas (n = 19) was studied during the first 3 months of life. One formula investigated was based on 100% bovine casein as the protein source whereas the other formula contained bovine milk proteins with a whey/casein ratio of 60:40. A faecal flora rich in bifidobacteria was found in all study groups; the growth of putrefactive bacteria (especially Bacteroides spp.), however, was limited. In formula-fed infants, significantly higher bacterial counts of enterococci and clostridia were detected compared to breast milk-fed infants. Similarities and differences due to the feeding regimen were particularly reflected in the pattern of the anaerobic bacterial species. Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. infantis and B. breve constituted the majority of the bifidobacterial flora independent of the type of milk feeding. Other bifidobacterial species such as B. longum, B. adolescentis, B. parabifidum and B. pseudo-catenulatum were detected in high numbers and at low frequencies in breastfed infants. The latter three were observed in infants fed the whey/casein formula as well. It seems that infants fed a casein formula develop a faecal flora more like that of breastfed infants concerning Lactobacillus spp. (especially L. fermentum and L. brevis).

Diversity of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus spp. in Breast-Fed and Formula-Fed Infants as Assessed by 16S rDNA Sequence Differences

“…The dot blot analysis con rmed our nding that two breast-fed infants, coded 1 and 52, and one formula-fed infant, coded 49 were not colonised by bi dobacteria at the age of 1 and:or 7 months (31). Our results are in line with several studies that show equal, either high (7,8) or low (9,13,27), frequency of bi dobacterial colonisation in both groups. Previous observations that the bi dobacterial populations of infants generally consist of one to three species (30,32,33) are con rmed by our ndings.…”

“…H owever, several other culture based studies have shown that both groups of infants have equal frequency and level of bi dobacterial colonisation by the age of approximately 1 month or earlier (7)(8)(9). Con icting results have also been obtained regarding other groups of bacteria such as Bacteroides, clostridia, enterococci, lactobacilli and enterobacteria in breast-fed and formula-fed infants.…”

Gut bacteria and health foods—the European perspective

“…In infants it is thought that those who are breast-fed have a natural predominance of bifidobacteria, and also specific strains of bifidobacteria. The formula-fed infants have a microbiota that is more complex and similar to the adults' microbiota, containing bifidobacteria, enterobacteria, lactobacilli, bacteroides, clostridia and enterococci (Benno and Mitsuoka, 1986;Kleessen et al, 1995). After weaning, the composition of the microbiota resembles that of the adult (Edwards, 1993).…”

Development of Intestinal Microbiota in Mice and Its Possible Interaction with the Evolution of Luminal IgA in the Intestine

“…The fluctuation of fecal bacterial populations of neonates has been well established, especially in humans [11,12,21]. However, little is known about the day to day evolution of the composition of intestinal microbiota from the suckling period to maturity.…”