Effect of formula with Lactobacillus on Cesarean-born Infants
The levels of probiotics found in the digestive systems of babies delivered by cesarean-section compared to those born vaginally is not widely studied or understood.
The European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology have recently undertaken research to understand the situation better and to compare the effects of the introduction of probiotics via formula in cesarean-born infants vs. those vaginally-born.
The specific probiotic introduced in the formula was Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938. A random selection of both vaginally and cesarean-born infants were given either a control formula or the same formula containing the specific probiotic within 72 hours of birth. Stool samples were then collected at two weeks and four months of age, whereby microbial DNA was extracted, amplified and pyrosequenced.
The results showed that at two weeks of age, in the control group, the babies born via cesarean section had lower levels of several healthy bacteria than those vaginally-delivered – similar results were also found at the age of four months. In the group of babies born vaginally given the formula containing L reuteri DSM 17938, the microbiota remained like that of the control group.
However, for the group of infants delivered via cesarean-section and given the formula with probiotic, this strain appears to play the role of keystone species by modulating the early development of the microbiota, seeing it comes close to the composition found after vaginal delivery.
Read the Abstract here
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