Study: prebiotics and probiotics in small children

Reference

Sazawal S., Dhingra U., Hiremath G. et al. Effects of Bifidobacterium Lactis HN019 and the addition of prebiotic oligosaccharide on milk on iron status, anemia and growth in children between the ages of 1 and 4. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr . June 30, 2010. [Epub Ahead of Print]

Design

double -blind, randomized, controlled, community -based study.

participant

624 children aged 1–4 years in New Delhi were randomized and received either control milk or enriched milk. Hematological parameters were assessed at the beginning of the course and at the end of the study. The size and weight were measured at the beginning of the study, in the middle of the study and at the end of the study.

study medication and dosage

The participants received either control milk for a year or with additional 1.9 x 107 coloning units Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 and 2.4 g/day prebiotic oligosaccharides enriched milk.

most important knowledge

The consumption of the milk enriched with prebiotics and probiotics reduced the risk of anemia and an iron deficiency by 45 % and increased weight gain by 0.13 kg/year compared to the control persons.

effects on practice

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 47.4 % of preschoolers worldwide suffer from anemia and 25.4 % of children of age. It is assumed that about half of these anemia is due to iron deficiency. In the United States, the WHO anemia does not consider a problem of public health, since only 3.1 % of the preschoolers were classified as anemic.

This study by Sazawal indicates a possible solution to the global problem of nutritional deficits and in particular provides new findings on the treatment and prevention of anemia. The positive effects of probiotics in the treatment of diarrhea are well documented, although it appears that you could have a far -reaching physiological effect than previously assumed. ³ In a parallel study, reduced milk enriched with prebiotics and probiotics. It has also been shown that a healthy ratio of useful intestinal bacteria protects against overweight and obesity in later life. ^{4, 5 and associated with a reduced risk for pregnancy diabetes.}

In terms of the role of probiotics in the treatment of anemia, corresponding studies show that children who have been administered with an iron fermented milk drink with additional Lactobacillus acidophilus showed higher values ​​for red blood cells and, if there is increased iron absorption, had an improved hemogine level. Evidence of the use of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium Lactis to prevent anemia in children.

What is more relevant for our patients in the United States and the growing trend towards obesity is the connection between increased BMI and reduced iron status.

What is possibly more relevant for our patients in the United States and the growing trend towards obesity is the connection between increased BMI and reduced iron status. According to a Pediatrics article from 2004, the likelihood that overweight and obese children suffer from iron deficiency. ^{8 It can be assumed that food supplements with probiotics in children bring many advantages, including a stronger immune system and a reduction in risk of obstacle and iron deficiency. One explanation is that the large amounts of calcium in the milk may have a protective effect against the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and ischemic cardiovascular diseases by reducing the fat absence in the intestine. 9 It could be worth taking a similar procedure with careful children to consider to consider to consider not only to counteract the development of such diseases, but also the associated risk of iron deficiency.}

While anemia certainly affects cognitive development, Lozoff et al. Also shown a connection between iron deficiency with and without anemia and poor behavior of infants. ^{10 A relatively simple intervention like the in this study could have profound effects on the social and emotional development of infants.}

This study not only underlines the importance of intestinal bacteria, but also reminds of the importance of prebiotics. An attempt with infant food only with probiotics did not improve infant growth, and Laparra et al. showed that the addition of inulin as a prebiotic to lactobacillus acidophilus increased the iron absorption from beans, but when added bifidobacterium infantis .

Probiotics still represent a safe and non-invasive intervention, which should not only be considered in the case of gastrointestinal disorders, but also as an additional therapy for anemia or anemia.