Probiotics: we don't see them or know them, but they are always around. It seems that we need them to be programmed for good integrative health. But not any kind, just the right combination of them. And we start acquiring this right combination of microorganisms right after birth. At this point, countless different circumstances modulate the way a baby’s gut microbiota is developing. This has a huge impact on the complementary and integrative health of the baby throughout his life.
Table of Contents
- What are probiotics?
- The types of bacteria that live in a child's body
- How can probiotics help your baby's health?
- How do probiotics work?
- Probiotics for babies with gas
- Probiotics for babies with diarrhea
- Probiotics for babies with colic
- Do breastfed babies need probiotics?
- Probiotics when feeding infant formula
- Probiotics in HiPP Formula
- Probiotics in baby food after 6 months
- Are probiotics safe for newborns?
What are probiotics?
Let's start with the basics: what are they? According to the latest scientific research and systematic review, the intestinal tract of people contains a complex microbial system that consists of approximately a hundred trillion different microbes belonging to more than 35 thousand bacteria genders as well as viruses, protozoans, archaea, and fungi.
They are considered a functional organism that is good for the host’s body and helps to support it in good human health and alive as long as it is possible for healthy adults. We call this organism probiotics. And to come up to this name a microbiome should:
- be isolated,
- survive in the intestinal tract after ingestion,
- be safe,
- deliver a proven benefit to digestive health and the human body.
Let us define the terms
The healthcare professionals of WHO identify probiotics as viable healthy gut bacteria able to alter the microbiota of the host for its health benefits. They can be applied within food products (natural probiotic supplements) or in the form of oral supplements, for example, probiotic drops.
Prebiotics could be described as food ingredients that are non-digestible but able to stimulate the favourable growth of at least one of the probiotic common strains or activate it selectively.
According to the notion of synbiotics, it could be whether functional food or oral supplements (probiotic drops), containing at the same time prebiotics and probiotic different strains such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces boulardii.
An excellent example of functional food (food that contains pre-and probiotic strains) and ideal dietary supplements is breast milk, it contains prebiotics (oligosaccharides) and probiotics (Bifidobacteria).
Groups of probiotics
All probiotics, especially infant probiotics, could be divided into groups depending on their derivation:
- Non-pathogenic strain of yeast (Saccharomyces boulardii)
- Lactic acid bacteria (Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus)
- Non-pathogenic strain of Escherichia coli
- Non-pathogenic strains of bacteria (Streptococcus thermophilus, Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus coagulans and Pediococcus acidilactici).
The types of bacteria that live in a child's body
Recent findings and accumulating evidence indicate that the microbial colonisation of the digestive system in the newborn is influenced by different factors during the neonatal period as well as the mode of delivery.
In order to get the right combination of microorganisms, we have to meet them in a certain order. It can be described as a colonisation match during which the first inhabitants of the fetus’s intestine change the environment so that the next colony-forming units can move in.
That is why it is possible to identify the several waves of colonisation. Each is represented by the particular bacteria-dominated healthy gut microbiome:
- In utero the dominated microbes are considered to be Proteobacteria.
- Microbiota of neonates can be dominated by Lactobacillus (particularly Lactobacillus rhamnosus) and Prevotella in vaginally-delivered or becomes Propionibacterium, Staphylococcus, and Corynebacterium dominated in those who are born via C-section.
- During the first week of life, the prevalence of Bifidobacteria has been observed in both C-section delivered and vaginally delivered infants.
- Within weaning from breastfeeding and solid foods introduction there is the next period of microbiome diversity increase - dominated by Proteobacteria (mainly the genus Escherichia) and Actinobacteria (mainly the genus Bifidobacterium).
The transition of the child’s microbiota takes around three-five years, becoming more stable and complex, its diversification depends on lots of factors, and as a result, each child has his own unique microbiome with beneficial bacteria based on a symbiotic relationship.
How can probiotics help your baby's health?
It is proved that microbiota is crucial in maintaining the gastrointestinal health itself but also the healthy state of the entire individual.
Besides gut bacteria, the representatives of microbiota live in such locations connected with the outer world as:
- skin
- mouth
- lungs
- urinary tract
- vagina
The infant probiotics are in charge of:
- proper nutrients absorption
- immune tolerance
- metabolism
- resistance to different infections
- function of mucosal barriers
- detoxification
Such groups of bacteria as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG ) are involved in the development and as a result in the functioning of babies’ immune systems.
How do probiotics work?
It is widely known that the main job of babies' probiotics is to secure the balance between good and bad bacteria inside the human body. The two ways of using probiotics to fulfill this task are: supporting the immune function and controlling the main factors of inflammation (as a result to reduce inflammation).
Each type of probiotics can maintain a specific function, among which are:
- keeping bad bacteria under control
- preventing consumed bad bacteria enter the blood circulation system
- breaking down absorbed medications and toxins
- producing vitamins (vitamin K) and increasing the absorption of vitamin D (it is proved that a combination of vitamin D and probiotics leads to a range of beneficial health effects)
- helping the intestine to digest food.
Intestinal microbiota and pediatric diseases
The gut immune system of newborns is highly dependent on the intestinal microflora, and dysbiosis is proved to be responsible for different pediatric diseases. Later dysbiosis can cause abnormal gut function and, as a result, the imbalance leads to such health conditions as
- neuropsychiatric disorders
- inflammation of bowels
- irritable bowel syndrome
- ulcerative colitis
- food allergy
- asthma
- eczema
- diabetes mellitus type 1
- obesity
Probiotics for babies with gas
The digestive system of neonates is still maturing. Its undermucose muscles are still unable to maintain the necessary rhythm efficiently moving the food along the gastrointestinal tract leading to gas pockets forming. Although most babies and toddlers have gas, only some of them feel pain because of it.
The great news is that sufficient probiotic supplementation can help to digest food properly and prevent excessive gas formation.
Providing the necessary amount of probiotic strains (first of all Lactobacillus spp - Lactobacillus rhamnosus gg) for babies, parents support the healthy balance of bad and good bacteria in the gut microbiome of them, and besides it, probiotics may aid the process of digestion and help cells of intestines to create enough amount of enzymes. Besides, probiotics may tame the symptoms of intestine inflammation and prevent the trapping of produced gas.
Probiotics for babies and toddlers with constipation
One of the psychologically important and prevalent pediatric issues in children is constipation. It can be diagnosed based on the next list of symptoms:
- painful and infrequent defecation
- fecal incontinence
- abdominal pain.
Constipation is a familiar disease in the estimated range of up to 30% globally. And it is the primary complaint in each 20th child seeing a medical professional all over the world.
So nowadays, the treatment of constipation in babies and toddlers is still a serious global challenge although Mommy's Bliss helps in some cases.
Recommendations of NASPGHAN as for childhood constipation include behavioural modification, dietary changes, and family education into the treatment process. Although in some cases the positive results can be achieved, only after a long period of sustained therapy and a proper baby's diet.
The use of baby probiotics as a part of the treatment has been reported in 2005. The combination of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus spp. showed a positive effect on the frequency of bowel movements (use of probiotics increased them noticeably).
Probiotics for babies with diarrhea
In contemporary childcare, probiotics may be used in the treatment of acute disease and to prevent diarrhea. The use of good bacteria decreases the duration of the fever period as well as the symptoms of this acute disease.
There are strong shreds of evidence showed that such certain strains of probiotics as B. lactis BB-12, L. rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus reuteri SD2222 are of great use to fight virus infection caused the acute symptom and the next list of probiotics as E. faecium, B. bifidum, L. reuteri, L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus are efficient against bacteria pathogens.
The possible mechanisms that influence these certain probiotic strains are inhibition of pathogenic germs, immune system modulation, enhancing the function of the mucosal barrier, and antimicrobial agents production.
Breastfed infants have Bifidobacteria predominated intestinal microbiota, which explains comparatively rare incidences of diarrhea among them.
According to the presented peer-reviewed studies investigating the effect of daily probiotic supplements (probiotic drops) of Bifidobacteria lactis in baby formula to babies and older children with runny poop, these probiotics are highly attractive in the terms of treatment.
Probiotics for babies with colic
Around 30% of infants suffer from colic which manifests with inconsolable crying. Although this pediatric problem is ubiquitous until now, the etiology of these tummy troubles is unclear.
Old wives' remedies such as a low-allergen diet for mothers of breastfed babies and "Mommy's Bliss" gripe water is of no use. This is why the recent scientific reports showed that the benefits of daily intake within 21 days, of infant probiotic supplements (baby probiotic drops) with such good bacteria as L. reuteri by breastfed colicky babies, are promising. The proven effect of probiotic supplement intake was the reduction of the average time the babies and older toddlers cried by the end of the 21st day of the research for Mommy's Bliss. So, the study represented and scientifically confirmed the ability of the definite strains of infant probiotics (baby probiotic drops) to reduce the symptoms of infant colic.
As L. reuteri is a part of babies' and older children's intestinal microbiome, it is likely that even learn-term probiotic supplementation causes no harm to the babies and can prevent the symptoms of colic in the future.
Do breastfed babies need probiotics?
Breast milk is considered a functional food that means there are all necessary nutrients, probiotics (Bifidobacteria), and prebiotic (human milk oligosaccharides - HMO) to provide all key ingredients to start a healthy and long illness-free life.
When human milk oligosaccharides were discovered in the 1930s, it was already known that breastfeeding supported the healthy development of gut microbiota but their function for several decades remained a mystery. It is interesting to know that HMOs are indigestible large solid components of breast milk. These oligosaccharides are aimed to feed the benefit for the babies bacteria and thus indirectly affect their health.
So, it is recommended by a child's doctor to use probiotic supplements in the breastfed baby prophylactically during the course of antibiotics mother or a baby has to take better accompanied with prebiotics.
Probiotics when feeding infant formula
Formula-fed babies can obtain probiotics and prebiotics along with the necessary nutrients. Some baby formulas can be fortified with good bacteria, which means the additional use of probiotics can promote a healthy balance in the guts of the baby and result in the benefits of the baby’s development for mommy's bliss.
Baby formulas with probiotics can enhance the effect of a baby’s microbiota and prevent or ease symptoms of some little tummy problems. In some cases, it can be necessary to add probiotic drops to maintain a healthy balance and support good bacteria in a short period of time.
Probiotics in HiPP Formula
Although there are baby formulas with probiotics there are a few which contain both pro- and prebiotics. HiPP COMBIOTIC® should be mentioned as an excellent example of a human’s attempt to discover one of the essential nature’s secrets – breast milk formula. The beneficial combination of natural probiotic and prebiotic (galacto-oligosaccharides) makes HiPP COMBIOTIC® functional food providing all necessary nutrients and supporting the balance in the baby's microbiota thus contributing to the healthy growth of the baby.
The main advantage of this formula is the unbelievable similarity to breast milk not even in nutrient combination but also in probiotics supplements. Babies while feeding with this baby formula obtain not only the same sugar as from breast milk but nervous system-friendly fatty acids and probiotic lactic cultures and oligosaccharides which are concerned to be the natural essential components of breast milk.
In other words, offering the baby HiPP COMBIOTIC® parents supply him with all the advantages the breast milk can provide.
Probiotics in baby food after 6 months
The most famous and familiar source of probiotics in older babies’ diet is, of course, fermented dairy products such as yogurt, but this dietary supplement should be sugar-free and contain live bacteria.
As an excellent source of easy-digestible protein and impressive diversity of potent probiotics for baby kefir, whether homemade or commercially produced, can be added to the babies’ diet after 6-7 months.
Among such probiotic supplements as soft cheeses, Gouda is particularly good in delivering intact probiotics as live microorganisms to the babies’ digestive tract. But it is necessary to discuss this diet widening for a baby with a pediatrician first.
Although olives are not supposed to be the probiotic-rich foods within the natural fermentation brine process they become rich in Lactobacillus.
Are probiotics safe for newborns?
A lot of scientific research proved that probiotics are well-tolerated and safe in healthy infants and children, in newborns with very low weight, and neonates who were born prematurely.
Nevertheless, the probiotic supplements are considered totally safe, however, they sometimes can cause probiotic colic. It is wise to talk to a pediatrician before starting taking probiotics.
Conclusion
The composition of microbiota each baby has is unique and affects his development, his health, and immunity later in life. Crucial changes in the normal path of colonisation match can lead to dysbiosis and thus to diseases.
But today we have enough knowledge and tools to establish a healthy gut microbiota within the early days and months of babies’ life due to such probiotic supplements as baby probiotic drops and fermented foods to provide healthy bacteria.
source https://organicsbestshop.com/blogs/organicsbestclub/baby-probiotics
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