Low level of galacto-oligosaccharide in infant formula stimulates growth of intestinal Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli

Table 1 Clinical data of the infants enrolled in the study

	GOS formula	GOS formula & human milk	Human milk	Control formula	F/P value
Babies recruited in 3 mo follow-up	n = 37	n = 58	n = 24	n = 45
Male/Female	20/17	30/28	13/11	24/21
Gestational age (wk)	38.7 ± 0.6	39.1 ± 0.8	39.4 ± 0.7	38.8 ± 0.8	1.40/0.24
Weight at birth (kg)	3.30 ± 0.42	3.20 ± 0.43	3.34 ± 0.43	3.35 ± 0.45	1.28/0.28
Length at birth (cm)	49.50 ± 0.96	49.47 ± 1.15	49.61 ± 1.23	49.57 ± 1.03	0.13/0.94
Head circumference at birth (cm)	34.15 ± 0.55	33.98 ± 0.72	34.07 ± 0.81	34.25 ± 0.77	1.35/0.26
Feeding volume (mL/kg-BW/d)	162 ± 27			157 ± 34
Weight gain during study period (g/d)	41.26 ± 5.22	43.35 ± 4.87	40.97± 5.06	40.59 ± 3.95	1.54/0.21
Length gain during study period (cm/wk)	0.95 ± 0.11	1.01 ± 0.11	0.93 ± 0.10	0.96 ± 0.11	1.94/0.13

Data are expressed as mean ± SD. GOS formula: Galactooligosaccharides in an amount of 0.24 g/dL. Control formula does not contain added GOS.

Table 2 Levels of intestinal bacteria at the end of a 3-mo feeding period as measured in fresh feces

	GOS formula (n = 20)	GOS formula & human milk (n = 29)	Human milk (n = 15)	Control formula (n = 18)	F/P value
Bifidobacteria	9.01 ± 1.18	8.97 ± 0.85	9.25 ± 0.93	8.16 ± 0.99	4.08/0.01
Lactobacilli	5.91 ± 1.61	5.99 ± 2.12	5.45 ± 2.16	4.27 ± 2.02	3.17/0.03
E. coli	6.35 ± 1.59	5.90 ± 1.84	5.74 ± 1.68	5.68 ± 2.11	0.52/0.67

Data are presented as mean ± SD Log₁₀ cfu/g wet faeces. Control formula does not contain added GOS.

Table 3 Fecal concentration of acetic acid and pH values at the end of a 3-mo feeding period

	GOS formula	GOS formula & human milk	Human milk	Control formula	F/P value
Acetic acid (n)	25.93 ± 6.84 (21)	25.09 ± 5.49 (34)	23.76 ± 5.65 (17)	19.42 ± 5.35 (24)	6.03/< 0.01
pH (n)	5.22 ± 0.25 (25)	5.27 ± 0.25 (41)	5.32 ± 0.24 (19)	5.56 ± 0.51 (27)	5.57/< 0.01

Data of acetic acid are presented as mean ± SD mmol/g wet faeces. Control formula does not contain added GOS.

Table 4 Scores of stool characteristics and intensity of digestive symptoms in the infants enrolled in the study (mean ± SD)

	GOS formula	GOS formula & human milk	Human milk	1Control formula	F/P value
Babies recruited in 3 mo follow-up	n = 37	n = 58	n = 24	n = 45
Stool consistency	2.46 ± 0.62	2.55 ± 0.66	2.37 ± 0.83	3.11 ± 0.34	3.27/0.02
Crying	1.06 ± 0.03	1.04 ± 0.02	1.08 ± 0.05	1.05 ± 0.03	1.29/0.27
Regurgitation	1.34 ± 0.55	1.28 ± 0.63	1.41 ± 0.58	1.35 ± 0.67	1.18/0.34
Vomiting	1.22 ± 0.43	1.18 ± 0.34	1.14 ± 0.46	1.25 ± 0.38	1.24/0.30

¹Control formula does not contain added GOS.