Original title: Piloquet et al. Efficacy and safety of a synbiotic infant formula for the prevention of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections: a randomized controlled trial; Am J Clin Nutr 2024; 119 (5): 1259-1269.
Respiratory infections are among the most common diseases in infants and pose a major challenge for their young immune system. 50-70% of all infants experience a lower respiratory tract infection in their first year of life.1,2 The most common pathogen is the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Healthy gut – healthy 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.3,4
The new GOLF*-III-study5, recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN), proves:
Support of the intestinal immune system
In the group of infants who were given a symbiotic milk formula, secretory IgA was 38% higher than in the control group. Secretory IgA is a marker for the intestinal immune system: increased quantities indicate that it is more mature.
Significant lower respiratory tract infections
This interaction between the intestine and the lungs is critical: infants fed with a symbiotic milk formula 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.
Synbiotic milk formula providing Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT 57 16 and GOS for non-breastfed infants.
Conclusion
A synbiotic milk formula providing Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT 5716 and GOS (HiPP ORGANIC COMBIOTIC®) has positive effects on intestinal immune system and intestinal environment. Lower respiratory tract infections are significantly less common, possibly due to a stronger immune system.
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.
* GO = GOS, LF = L. fermentum (Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT 5716)
Reference:
1 Ontani et al. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22(1):313.
2 „Respiratorische Synzytial-Virus-Infektionen (RSV)“, RKI-Ratgeber 2024.
3 Enaud et al. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2020 Feb; 10:9. 2 Alcazar et al. Lancet Microbe. 2022 Nov; 3(11): e867–e880.
4 Alcazar et al. Lancet Microbe. 2022 Nov; 3(11): e867–e880.
5 Piloquet et al. Efficacy and safety of a synbiotic infant formula for the prevention of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections: a randomized controlled trial; Am J Clin Nutr 2024; 119 (5): 1259-1269.
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