How much probiotic for infants and which ones are good?

By Probiotic Expert: Dr. Raga

According to Body Ecology research, the amniotic fluid contained in the womb during pregnancy is sterile and free from any bacteria. However, there are also cases in which the amniotic fluid can become infected.

When the time of birth comes and the cervix dilates, the bacteria coming from the birth canal start to enter and reach the amniotic fluid. As the labor progresses, the baby becomes exposed to the bacteria present in the mother’s birth canal.

These bacteria now goes into the baby’s digestive tract and establish their colony there.

Infants’ first exposure to bacteria

It is a good thing if the mother has enough beneficial bacteria in her digestive system and vagina. This is helpful because she will be able to pass beneficial bacteria to the baby.

On the other hand, if the mother does not have enough beneficial bacteria, the tendency is that she will only pass the potentially harmful bacteria to the baby.

Based on studies, 85% of women who give birth have vaginal infection. Then, the dangerous pathogens causing this infection gets passed to the baby instead of the beneficial bacteria which is essential for their wellness foundation.

Infants’ first exposure to bacteria

Probiotics came from the words pro (meaning for) and biota (meaning life).

These are live microorganisms that when consumed adequately may cause beneficial effects to the one who takes it.

In adults, these have been known as a remedy for medical conditions such as constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, vaginal infections, and allergies.

What are Probiotics?

The infants who have been born with deficiency in the number of beneficial bacteria in the beginning of their life may be easily prone to gastrointestinal discomforts such as constipation, colic, reflux, and gas.

Unfortunately, these infants do not have the immunity to fight off conditions like this which are generally caused by harmful bacteria. Also, they are unable to cleanse out their body from the toxins that they may have inherited.

Since 80% of an infants’ immune system is located at the digestive system, those infants who don’t have the ability to establish healthy intestinal environment will be more susceptible to weakened immunity. This results to problems such as allergies and autism.

Why do infants need probiotics?

Probiotics enhance the body’s immune system to fight off allergies

Reduced likelihood of developing atopic eczema as well as asthma

Increase of the infants’ immunity against the rotavirus which is a common culprit behind diarrhea

Improvement in the absorption of nutrients from milk

Aids in infants who are lactose intolerant

Benefits of probiotics in Infants

Decreases the chances of developing necrotizing enterocolitis or the death of intestinal tissue. This is one of the most common causes of death in premature babies.

According to Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, a neurologist and neurosurgeon, there is a strong association between digestive health and brain function. She believes that children who don’t have health digestive system are at risk of developing problems in normal brain function such as autism.

Benefits of probiotics in Infants

Based on an Australian study, it was found that the best probiotic strains that could be used for infants are lactobacilli and bifidobacterium. This is due to the evolution of the preterm infant’s intestinal flora.

Ideally, the sources of these bacterial strains should be from humans as well. This is preferable due to their capability to adapt to both mucosal and dairy ecosystems.

It was also suggested that it is better to use probiotics with several strains instead of single stains since these will give more benefits to the infants.

Best probiotic strains for infants

The probiotic supplementation in infants should be done carefully, especially those who are preterm. This is because preterm infants have impaired immune system, poor nutrition, and frequent exposure to harmful microorganisms. To avoid overwhelming the infant’s immune system, proper dose of probiotics should be observed.

The researchers recommend to follow these guidelines:- Neonates (less than 32 weeks age of gestation):

3 x 109 cfu/day- Extremely low birth weight infants: 1.5 x 109

cfu/day until they reach enteral feeds of 50-60 ml/kg/day

- The probiotic dose should be diluted in 1.0 to 1.5 mL of breastmilk or water.

Dose of probiotics for infants

When to start:- Probiotics should be started as soon as possible before

harmful bacteria starts colonizing the infant’s colon. Also, it is advised to start it before administration of ANTIBIOTICS.

- In the trials that were conducted, probiotics were mostly started with enteral feedings.

When to stop:- When signs of intolerance have been noticed such as

flatulence, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal distention- It should also be immediately stopped when acute

illness such as sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and perinatal asphyxia (oxygen deprivation) occurs.

When to start and to stop probiotics in infants

Should have a high quality Should be bought from a probiotics company

which has good manufacturing practices as well as strict quality control

The probiotics should be made with a formulation that ensures that adequate beneficial bacteria will be able to survive and arrive at the colon.

Preferably added with a prebiotic (food for probiotics)

A type of packaging that is able to protect the integrity of the product in order to achieve the product’s effectiveness

What to look for in probiotics for infants

Parents need to take care of their own health and not just their babies.

Probacto is the best probiotic that I have ever run into. They use multiple strains and they are spore forming so they can last while not refrigerated. They do not use cheap bacteria, but expensive ones such as B. Subtilis.

Probacto also contains prebiotics to help stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut.

Probacto contains digestive enzymes to assist in your digestion.

Probacto is enteric coated and made to be slow release so it will release in your gut gradually.

My Favorite Probiotic

It is a must for parents to be very vigilant about the health of their infant. This should be done by collaborating with their infant’s healthcare providers. It is essential to ensure that the safety and overall wellness of the infant would not be compromised. Furthermore, more studies should be conducted to firmly support the safety of probiotic use in infants. This is an integral point because infants, especially newborns, have a very sensitive and specialized case.

Conclusion