Infant intestinal microflora

Figure 2.21 Effect of lactulose on the intestinal microflora of 2-month-old infants (modified from Tamura et al, 1993).

Sepp, E., Julge, K., Vasar, M., Naaber, P., Bjorksten, B., and Mikelsaar, M.1997. Intestinal microflora of Estonian and Swedish infants. Acta Pediatr 86 956-961. 

Kirjavainen, P.V., Apostolou, E., Arvola, T., Salminen, S.J., Gibson, G.R., and Isolauri, E. 2001. Characterizing the composition of intestinal microflora as a prospective treatment target in infant allergic disease. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 32 1-7. 

Sepp E, Julge K, Vasar M, et al Intestinal microflora of Estonian and Swedish infants. Acta... 

Benno, Y., Sawada, K., and Mitsuoka, T. 1984. The intestinal microflora of infants composition of fecal flora in breast-fed and bottle-fed infants. Microbiol. Immunol. 28 975-986. 

It has been shown that bifidobacteria and lactobacillus protect infants from pathogenic intestinal microorganisms and therby decrease the incidence of infantile diarrhea (Yoshioka et al. 1983 Huang et al. 2002). They are associated with a higher production of short-chain fatty acids (acetic and lactic acids), which are a source of energy for colonocytes. Furthermore, strains of bifidobacteria and lactobacillus influence gut maturation processes in infants and have anti-inflammatory effects (Hedin et al. 2007). Specific components of the intestinal microflora, including Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, are beneficial for the host, such as... 

Morelli, L. (2008). "Postnatal development of intestinal microflora as influenced by infant nutrition." y. M/tr. 138(9) 1791S-1795S. 

Bakker-Zierikzee AM, Alles MS, Knol J, Kok FJ, Tolboom JJM, Bindels JG. Effects of infant formula containing a mixture of galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides or viable Bifidobacterium aninwlis on the intestinal microflora during the first 4 months of life. Br / Nutr. 2005 94 783 -790. 

Mountzouris, K.C., McCartney, A.L. and Gibson, G.R. (2002) Intestinal microflora of human infants and current trends for its nutritional modulation. Br. J. Nutr., 87, 405-420. 

Decreased gastric acidity (antacids, acid-inhibitors), lack in personal hygiene, decreased intestinal motility (opiates, antiperistaltic agents), a disturbed enteric microflora and malnutrition are risk factors for a GTI. In contrast, breast-feeding reduces GTI incidence in infants. 

Among Finnish infants the bacterial cellular fatty acid profile in faecal samples differed significantly between infants in whom atopy was and was not developing. Atopic subjects had more Clostridia and fewer Bifidobacteria. The differences in neonatal gut microflora precede the expression of atopy, suggesting a crucial role of the balance of indigenous intestinal bacteria for the maturation of human immunity to a non-atopic mode [ 180(IIIC)]. 

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