FECAL SHORT-CHAIN FATTY-ACIDS IN BREAST-FED AND FORMULA-FED BABIES

The intestinal flora of breast-fed infants differs from that of formul a-fed infants. It is thought that this difference in flora may be one important reason why breast-fed babies suffer less from gastrointestin al disease. Differences in intestinal flora are reflected in the profi le of faecal short chain fatty acids (SCFA). Very little is known abou t faecal concentrations of SCFA in babies fed breast milk or infant fo rmula. In this study, faecal SCFA were measured in babies at two and f our weeks of age who had been either exclusively breast fed or bottle fed from birth. There was no significant difference in total faecal SC FA concentrations between breast-fed and formula-fed babies when lacta te was included. The formula-fed group, however, had less lactic acid and higher concentrations of propionic and n-buytric acids than breast -fed babies. Very few babies had significant levels of n-butyric acid, although this SCFA is believed to be important for the health of the colonic mucosa of adults.