CAN INFANT-FEEDING FORMULAS PRODUCE BIFIDOGENIC EFFECTS

Background: The domination of the intestinal microflora of infants by bifidobacteria, induced by feeding with mother's milk, is a unique nat ural phenomenon. There is evidence that breast-fed babies profit from the colonization of their large intestine by these bacteria in many re spects. For this reason, following the discovery of bifidobacteria by Tissier in 1900 numerous attempts were made to reproduce the bifidogen ic effects in infant feeding formulas. Low puffer capacity, low protei n and iron concentration, high lactose content, modified lactose, a nd numerous other bifidogenic factors were claimed to be responsible for bifidogenic effects similar to those produced by mother's milk. To da te, there is no convincing concept for the production of such a formul a. The main weaknesses in the evaluation previous studies lie in the i ncorrect interpretation of the number of bifidobacteria in the faeces in comparison to the remaining species, and in their focus on a single component, neglecting the interaction of all the components. Discussi on: There is, however, no doubt that bifidogenic effects are obtainabl e if approximation to the overall composition of human milk with regar d to the quantity (and quality) of protein and fermentable carbohydrat e is achieved. Our studies with modified hydrolyzed infant formulas ha ve shown a bifidobacteria-dominated microflora in 30-40% of cases. Thi s is low compared to the results of feeding with mother's milk, but ca n be considered a promising starting-point for further research in thi s field.