Breast milk is the best food for babies. Its synbiotic composition (prebiotics and probiotics) encourages positive development of the intestinal microbiota – one factor that leads to breastfed infants having fewer infections than children fed with standard formula.
Common respiratory infections
Respiratory infections are among the most common diseases in infants. 50-70% of all infants experience a lower respiratory tract infection in their first year of life.1 These infections pose a major challenge for their young immune system.
A strong intestinal immune system protects the lungs
The intestinal microbiota is an important training partner for an infant’s still immature immune system. Although the vast majority of immune cells are located in the intestine and interact with the intestinal microbiota, the immune system is not just trained locally in the intestine. Bacterial metabolic products, including short-chain fatty acids (e.g. acetate and butyrate), are released into the bloodstream, thus allowing them to reach other parts of the body. Their immunomodulatory effects also mean they can have an influence on lung homeostasis, in a relationship now known as the gut-lung axis.2,3
A sigh of relief for babies’ tummies
HiPP ORGANIC COMBIOTIC® contains the combination of L. fermentum CECT5716, a probiotic bacterial strain isolated from breast milk*, and the prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS). Our new GOLF-III study (GO=GOS, LF=L. fermentum) provides further evidence of the positive effect of HiPP ORGANIC COMBIOTIC® on the intestinal microbiota4 and a resulting reduction in lower respiratory tract infections.5
In the group of infants who were given HiPP ORGANIC COMBIOTIC®, secretory IgA was 38% higher than in the control group.5 Secretory IgA is a marker for the intestinal immune system: increased quantities indicate that it is more mature.
This interaction between the intestine and the lungs is critical: infants fed with HiPP ORGANIC COMBIOTIC® experienced 23% fewer infections of the lower respiratory tract5 than the infants in the control group, who were given standard formula without prebiotics and probiotics.6
HiPP ORGANIC COMBIOTIC® is the best formula from birth to toddlerhood
- Prebiotics and probiotics provide effective support for the intestinal microbiota4
- Increased colonisation of the intestine with bifidobacteria and lactobacilli4,6
- Positive effects on intestinal immune system and intestinal environment5
- Stronger immune system: fewer infections of the lower respiratory tract5,6 and of the gastrointestinal tract6,7
Suitable HiPP info material
A sigh of relief for babies‘ tummies (AL45737)
HiPP ORGANIC COMBIOTIC® strengthens the gut-lung axis
The GOLF III trial: recently published in AJCN (41934)
HiPP COMBIOTIC® shows positive effects on gut microbiota profiles.
References:
1 „Respiratorische Synzytial-Virus-Infektionen (RSV)“, RKI-Ratgeber 2024.
2 Enaud et al. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2020; 10:9.
3 Alcazar et al. Lancet Microbe. 2022; 3: e867–e880.
4 Lagkouvardos et al. AJCN 2023; 117: 326–339.
5 Piloquet et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2024; 119 (5): 1259-1269
6 Maldonado et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2012; 54(1): 550–61.
7 Gil-Campos et al. Pharmacol Res 2012; 65(2): 231–238.
* Breast milk contains a variety of natural cultures which can vary individually.
HiPP for Health Care Professionals