Effect of feeding milk formula containing lactulose to infants on faecal bifidobacterial flora.

Nagendra, R. and Viswanatha, S. and Kumar, S. A. and Murthy, B. K. and Rao, S. V. (1995) Effect of feeding milk formula containing lactulose to infants on faecal bifidobacterial flora. Nutrition Research, 15 (1). pp. 15-24.

PDF Nutrition Research, Volume 15, Issue 1, January 1995, Pages 15-24.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (683kB)

Abstract

Breast-fed infants are known to harbour higher counts of bifidobacteria in the intestinal tract than bottle-fed babies, due to the presence of bifidus factors in human milk. In this study, infants were fed on milk-based formulae with or without lactulose (a bifidus factor) at 2 levels and their faecal flora, faecal pH and some nutritional parameters were determined to study the bifido-stimulatory effect of lactulose compared with a group of breast-fed infants. Faecal bifidobacteria and coliforms were enumerated on selective media, while faecal pH was determined in a saline suspension. Incorporation of lactulose at 0.5-1.0% levels in the formulae stimulated bifidobacteria to the extent observed in breast-fed babies. Babies fed control formula (without lactulose) had coliforms as the predominant flora and those fed lactulose-containing formulae or human milk had bifidobacteria as the predominant flora. The pH-lowering effect in the faeces of babies fed on formula containing 0.5% lactulose was similar to that observed in breast-fed babies. Incorporation of 0.5% lactulose in milk formula is considered adequate to stimulate bifidobacterial flora and prevent any laxative action due to lactulose. It was concluded that for the stimulation of bifidus flora, a bifidus factor as well as a low buffering capacity of the formula were essential. The growth rate in infants showed an increasing trend on feeding lactulose-containing formula, compared with control formula, while the blood composition showed a normal profile for protein and haemoglobin contents.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	cows-; ph-; breast-feeding; coliform-bacteria; growth-rate; liveweight-; blood-composition; blood-proteins; haemoglobin-; infant-feeding; infant-formulae; human-milk; lactulose-; faeces-; faecal-flora; infants-
Subjects:	600 Technology > 01 Medical sciences > 03 Child nutrition 600 Technology > 08 Food technology > 27 Dairy products
Divisions:	Dept. of Biochemistry
Depositing User:	Food Sci. & Technol. Information Services
Date Deposited:	30 Mar 2016 09:51
Last Modified:	30 Mar 2016 09:51
URI:	http://ir.cftri.res.in/id/eprint/8509

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