Infant Immune Health

An infant’s immune system begins developing from the moment they’re conceived.¹ During the first 1,000 days of their life, the foundations are laid for their lifelong immune health and function.² ³

 

Early life nutrition can support the development of their immune system⁴ by helping colonise a balanced, healthy gut microbiota, which closely impacts immunity.⁴ ⁵

 

Learn more about how you can support your patients’ immune health during their early months below.

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Prebiotic Mixture scGOS/lcFOS in infant formula

Prebiotic Mixture scGOS/lcFOS in infant formula

 

Breast milk is a primary natural source of biotics, for infants, containing a high quantity of Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs). Nutricia was the first to introduce a specific prebiotic mixture scGOS/lcFOS (9:1) to infant formula.

 

scGOS/lcFOS was developed to help mimic the quantity, diversity and functionality of the diverse pool of HMOs in breast milk1-3

 

1. Boehm G, et al. Acta Paediatrica. 2003;92:64-7.

 

2. Stahl B, et al. Anal Biochem. 1994;223:218–26.

 

3. Siziba L.P., et al. Nutrients. 2021;13(6):1973

Let's rethink how we support infants

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Consider nutrition first in the management of common infant functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) and cows’ milk protein allergy.

In their first 1,000 days, the foundations of an infant’s immune, brain and overall health are laid,² ³ with nutrition playing a significant role in supporting these processes.⁴

This crucial time influences an infant’s health and wellbeing not just in the short-term, but also throughout their lifetime, so it’s essential to optimise their nutrition during this period.

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The Link Between the Gut Microbiota and Immunity

The gut is home to 70-80% of the body’s immune cells,⁵ and plays a vital role in supporting an infant’s immune system development and function.

When early life nutrition is optimised this can selectively fuel the growth and activity of beneficial microbes, impacting the composition of an infant’s gut microbiota.³ ⁶ This can protect infants against harmful pathogens, bacteria, infection and illness, prevent the development of allergies, and support cognitive and immune function and development.⁷ ⁸

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The Importance of Biotics for Infants

Breast milk is a primary natural source of biotics for infants,⁹ providing essential components including Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) which function
as prebiotics to selectively fuel beneficial bacteria in the gut.¹⁰ Breast milk has probiotic and post biotic gut health benefits, strengthening an infant’s immune response and development.¹¹

For Healthcare Professional use only – not for distribution to the general public

 

The Importance of Prebiotics for the Infant Immunity

 

Dr Rupert Hinds (Consultant Gastroenterologist at Monash Children’s Hospital and Senior Lecturer at Monash University) explains the importance of prebiotic oligosaccharides for breastfed and formula-fed infants.
Prebiotics play an important role in the development of the infant’s gut and immune health in the first 1000 days of life.

 

Aptamil Infant and Toddler Range

Nutricia Careline

Meet our Careline experts

Our Nutricia Careline team of dietitians, nutritionists and midwives are here to help with any questions.

For Healthcare Professional use only – not for distribution to the general public. 

This information is general only and healthcare professionals should rely on their own skill and judgement when assessing and diagnosing patients

 

References:

1 – Moraes-Pinto, et al. J de Pediatria. 2021;97:S59-66.

2 –Godfrey, et al. Trends in Endocrinol and Metab. 2010;21:199-205.

3 – Bischoff, S. BMC Med. 2011;9:24.

4 – Prentice, S. Front Immunol. 2017;8:1641.

5 – Furness, et a;. Am J Physio. 1999;277:G922-8.

6 – McKenzie, et al. Immunol Rev. 2017;278:277-95

7 – West, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015;135:3-13.

8 – Mohajeri, et al. Nutr Rev. 2018;7:481-96.

9 – Salminen, et al. Nutr. 2020;12:1952.

10 – Walsh, et al. J Funct Foods. 2020;72:104074.

11 – Moossavi, et al. Front in Pediatr. 2018;6:197.

12 – Moro, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2006;61:814–9.13 – Moro, et al. J

Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2002;34:291–5.

14 – Ivakhnenko, et al. Polish Paediatr. 2013;88: 398-404.

15 – Arslanoglu, et al. J Nutr. 2008;138:1091–5.

16 – Arslanoglu, et al. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2012;26:49–59.

 Nutricia products are intended for the nutritional management of diseases and related medical conditions and therefore should be used under medical supervision.

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