Monday, 5 December 2011: 14:00 - 14:15
Gran Cancún 5 (Cancún Center)
Christoph Grüber, MD, PhD
,
Pediatric Pneumology / Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Margriet van Stuivenberg, MD, MPH
,
Division of Neonatology, Beatrix Children’s Hospital, UMC Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Fabio Mosca, MD, PhD
,
University Department of Mother and Infant Sciences, University of Milan, IRCCS “Ca’Granda” Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
Guido Moro, MD, PhD
,
Macedonio Melloni Hospital, Milan, Italy
Gaetano Chirico, MD, PhD
,
Department of Neonatology, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
Christian Braegger, MD, PhD
,
Division of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, University Children’s Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
Joseph Riedler, MD, PhD
,
Children’s Hospital, Schwarzach Hospital, Schwarzach, Austria
Günther Boehm, MD, PhD
,
Danone Research Centre for Specialized Nutrition, Friedrichsdorf, Germany
Ulrich Wahn, Prof. Dr.
,
Pediatric Pneumology / Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Background: Most infants developing atopic dermatitis have a low risk for atopy. Primary prevention of atopic dermatitis is difficult. Objective of this study was to assess the effect of
supplementation of an infant and follow-on formula with prebiotic and immunoactive oligosaccharides on the occurrence of atopic dermatitis in the first year of life.
Methods: Healthy term infants from 5 European countries with low atopy risk were recruited before the age of 8 weeks, either having started with formula feeding or being on full breastfeeding (Breastfeeding Group). Formula fed infants were randomized to feeding with a regular formula containing a specific mixture of neutral oligosaccharides and pectin-derived acidic oligosaccharides (Prebiotic Formula Group) or regular formula without oligosaccharides (Control Formula Group).
Results: 414 infants were randomized to the prebiotic group and 416 infants to the control group. 300 infants were followed in the breastfeeding group. Up to the first birthday, Atopic dermatitis occurred in significantly fewer infants from the prebiotic group (5.7%) than in infants from the control group (9.7%, P=0.04). The cumulative incidence of atopic dermatitis in the prebiotic group was in the low range of the breastfeeding group (7.3%). In a Cox regression model, the rate of atopic dermatitis was significantly lower by 44% in the prebiotic group vs. the control group (P=0.04). The number needed to prevent one case of atopic dermatitis by supplementation of prebiotics was 25 infants.
Conclusions: Formula supplementation with a specific mixture of oligosaccharides was effective as primary prevention of atopic dermatitis in low atopy risk infants.
