Tricia, here's a useful systematic review that will help you weigh up the 
evidence.

ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition: Braegger C, Chmielewska A, Desci T, et al. 
Supplementation of infant formula with probiotics and/or probiotics: A 
systematic review and comment by the ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition. Journal 
of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition 2011; 52(2): 238-250.

Remember, prebiotics (which foster the production of probiotics in the gut) 
are about one-third of the components of human milk and there are 130 (or 
more) oligosaccharides, a prebiotic, in human milk. What's put into 
artificial milk is very little - but the manufacturers advertise this small 
component, and who has the money to advertise the real thing (Mum's milk), 
which is loaded with it?

Virginia
in Brisbane, QLD, Australia

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tricia Shamblin" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 9:56 AM
Subject: DHA and ARA in infant formula


>I had a conversation with a colleague recently about DHA and ARA in infant 
>formula. I was under the impression that the results of studies have been 
>inconclusive regarding their benefits in formula, but I don't want to give 
>the wrong information. It looks like there are a few studies showing some 
>visual acuity benefit for preterm infants, but I'm wondering about their 
>validity. Where did they get their funding? Does anyone have any links to 
>information about this? Of course, there's also the issue of hexane being 
>used in the extraction process and the fact that we don't know what the 
>long-term effect of possible exposure to it in infant formula is. Thank you 
>for your help.
>
> Tricia Shamblin, RN, IBCLC
>
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