New study, researchers found that adding prebiotics to infant formula could help prevent allergies and asthma – that’s big news for kids. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in ten children have asthma in the United States. The numbers for children with allergies are not any better; according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, about ten percent of America’s children had seasonal allergies in 2010.Prebiotics Versus Probiotics
Prebiotics are different than probiotics. Prebiotics are found in breast milk, in fruit, and in vegetables – and help stimulate the growth of normal bacteria in the gut. Probiotics, on the other hand, are found in yogurt from the live cultures and in infant formula.
Researchers looked at four studies that had a combined total of 1,428 children. Children ages four months to two years of age were given either formula with prebiotics or the standard formula. From these four studies, researchers found that children who were given the prebiotic formula saw a significant decrease in the development of eczema, but the two studies who looked at asthma found no difference whether the child received the prebiotic formula or the standard formula. To gain a better understanding on how prebiotics work and what is next for this research, I had the opportunity to interview Professor John Sinn, lead researcher on this study.
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