EXPERIENCE OF ADAPTED PROBIOTIC MILK FORMULAS IN FEEDING OF INFANTS OF THE 1ST YEAR OF LIFE

Abstract

Aim: to assess the influence of probiotic milk formula on the functional and nutritive status as well as the microbiocenosis of 32 infants of the 1st year of life. Patients and methods: 32 infants (15 — younger than 6 months and 17 — older than 6 moths) fed with artificial milk formulas were under the observation. The majority of mothers were primipara, with various pregnancy disorders. The infants were followed-up in out-patient clinics with different diseases: cerebral ischemia, perinatal injure of the nervous system, anemia and others. As a main basic food the children received powder adapted formula. In order to achieve the aim, from 2 to 3 feedings in infants’ diet have been changing to the powder adapted formula during 4 weeks. To assess the results the data of clinical examination and characteristics of coprological and microbiological tests were used. Results: weight gain in the majority of infants was more than 700 g for 1 month. In 8 children the symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders were arrested. Control coprolocical and microbiological tests in 1 month after the formula administration showed positive pre- and probiotic effects as increase of bifidobacteria titer in all the patients who had had their decreased levels, as well as decrease of the amount of patients with associations of conditionally-pathogenic flora. Conclusions: the investigated product has positive effect on the intestinal microbiota and contributes to arresting of various types of gastrointestinal disorders.

Keywords

• infants of the 1st year of life
• probiotic milk formulas
• probiotics