Cochrane Library is a good place to start. This review was published
earlier in the year:
Osborn, D. A. & Sinn, J. K. (2008a) Prebiotics in infants for prevention of
allergic disease and food hypersensitivity. Cochrane Database of Systematic
Reviews:
Authors' conclusions: There is insufficient evidence to determine the role
of prebiotic supplementation of infant formula for prevention of allergic
disease and food hypersensitivity. One small trial of prebiotic
oligosaccharides with excess losses reported a reduction in eczema in high
risk formula fed infants. Further trials are needed to determine whether
this finding persists over a longer period of time, applies to other
manifestations of allergic disease, is associated with reductions in
allergen sensitisation, and is reproducible.
There is a similar finding for probiotics.
Osborn, D. A. & Sinn, J. K. (2008b) Probiotics in infants for prevention of
allergic disease and food hypersensitivity. Cochrane Database of Systematic
Reviews.
Bottom line: There are more of these substances in human milk than we are
aware of. Isolating one or two does not provide similar functional benefits
to human milk. Each company uses a different mix of pre biotics in
different quantities. They do not all behave equally. Human milk is
complex and its components are interdependent. It is a living fluid that
cannot be replicated by modifying killed bovine milk.
If Abbott is so convinced that these things have such huge health
ramifications for bottle fed infants, why have they not included them in
their entire range of infant formulas. Why, if Abbott is so concerned with
infant health has it not revealed this 'discovery' to the FAO to ensure that
prebiotics are included in the next revision of the Codex Alimentarius so
that all bottle fed infants can benefit from their inclusion in infant
formula?
Good luck
Nina Berry
Australia
-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brenda Phipps
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 3:17 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Prebiotics in formula
There has been a big push at our hospital by Abbott to present a variety
of "medical" topics to staff. The most recent efforts include a fancy
5-course
meal at the most expensive restaurant in our town. The first topic was
presented by a Phoenix physician who discussed the use of prebiotics in
formulas, and how they have dramatically improved the quality of formula
once
again.
I would like to know more about how exactly these prebiotics work, and how I
can counteract what staff are telling me. They are buying into it hook, line
and sinker. The one thing I've managed to communicate is that nothing is
free - the company is passing along the cost of these dinners to the
consumers, namely the moms who end up buying the product. Is there
anything else that's known about this new formula (Sim Advanced Shield, to
be specific).
Thanks,
Brenda Phipps, BS, IBCLC
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