Effect of a milk formula with prebiotics on the intestinal microbiota of infants after an antibiotic treatment

Abstract

Antibiotics exert deleterious effects on the intestinal microbiota, favoring the emergence of opportunistic bacteria and diarrhea. Prebiotics are nondigestible food components that stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria. Our aim was to evaluate the effects on the intestinal microbiota of a prebiotic-supplemented milk formula after an antibiotic treatment. A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was carried out in 140 infants 1-2 y of age distributed into two groups after a 1-wk amoxicillin treatment (50 mg/kg/d) for acute bronchitis. The children received for 3 wk >500 mL/d of a formula with prebiotics (4.5 g/L) or a control without prebiotics. Fecal samples were obtained on d -7 (at the beginning of the antibiotic treatment), on d 0 (end of the treatment and before formula administration), and on d 7 and 21 (during formula administration). Counts of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus-Enterococcus, Clostridium lituseburiense cluster, Clostridium histolyticum cluster, Escheric