When it comes to your baby’s health, one needs to take care of so many things, the – what, where, how, when – so as to keep them healthy and immune to the ever-changing environment. Babies are born with an immature immune system and gut filled with diverse bacteria. 1 The programming of their systemic “fight club” starts immediately after birth and is influenced strongly by the myriad of good bacteria.
Did you know prebiotics in mother’s milk can help promote good bacteria? 1
Breast milk has various beneficial component for babies and prebiotic oligosaccharides is one of them. Prebiotics stimulates the growth and activity of the good bacteria and helps boost baby’s immunity.2
There are some studies which show that prebiotics are beneficial for infants as they help in reduce infections, softens the stools, reduces diarrhoea, constipation, decrease incidences of cold & fever.3
Prebiotics in breast milk boost the intestine’s defensive functions against bad bacteria, by inducing the growth of beneficial bacteria. Research indicate specific mix of GOS/FOS (9:1) ratio have prebiotic effect.4
A healthy gut lead to a resilient immune system which has a positive impact on lifelong health. It has been shown in multiple clinical studies that prebiotics contribute significantly to healthy gut there by enhancing and providing the crucial boost to the immunity in babies. 4
References
1. Lyons KE, Ryan CA, Dempsey EM, Ross RP, Stanton C. Breast Milk, a Source of Beneficial Microbes and Associated Benefits for Infant Health. Nutrients. 2020;12(4):1039. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12041039
2. Okburan G, Kızıler S. Human milk oligosaccharides as prebiotics. PediatrNeonatol. 2023;64(3):231-238. doi:10.1016/j.pedneo.2022.09.017
3. Davani-Davari D, Negahdaripour M, Karimzadeh I, et al. Prebiotics: Definition, Types, Sources, Mechanisms, and Clinical Applications. Foods. 2019;8(3):92. Published 2019 Mar 9. doi:10.3390/foods8030092
4. Miqdady M, Al Mistarihi J, Azaz A, Rawat D. Prebiotics in the Infant Microbiome: The Past, Present, and Future. Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr. 2020;23(1):1-14. doi:10.5223/pghn.2020.23.1.1