Abstract
The development of the faecal microflora in the gut of the breast fed infant could be attributed to the presence of lactoferrin and the absence of iron in breast milk. In vitro studies suggest that lactoferrin could inhibit colonisation of the gut by E. coli in the breast fed baby. Lactobacillus sp do not require iron as a growth factor which could contribute to their overgrowth in the gut of the breast fed baby.
The effects of bovine lactoferrin and iron (separately and in combination) in an infant formula on the aerobic and anaerobic faecal flora of 84 babies at 4 and 14 days were studied. 28 breast fed babies were also studied.
At 4 days there was no difference in the faecal microflora in the babies fed the 4 different diets, but more breast fed babies were colonised with Staphylococcus sp (p<0.05) and had an increased dominance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus sp (p<0.05).
At 14 days lactoferrin had no effect on the composition of the faeces, but faeces from babies fed formulas lacking iron showed an overgrowth of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus sp (p<0.05) and a reduced dominance of Streptococcus sp (p=0.07).
A species difference (bovine not human lactoferrin was used) could be responsible for the apparent inactivity of the lactoferrin, but other factors (lysozyme and antibody) necessary for its in vitro bacteriostatic activity were not present in the formulas. A lack of iron in the formula tends to make the faeces similar to those of a breast fed infant. Perhaps this fact should be considered when adding iron to infant formulas to be consumed by the newborn.
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Balmer, S., Scott, P. & Wharton, B. 31 THE EFFECT OF DIETARY LACTOFERRIN AND IRON ON THE FAECAL FLORA OF THE NEWBORN. Pediatr Res 24, 410 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198809000-00054
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198809000-00054