EFFECT OF PREBIOTICS SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE SERUM LEVEL OF CD4 AND CD8

Abstract

A t birth, developing a healthy, protective and metabolically active gut microflora consisting of a wide range of bacteria termed the infant’s microbiome is considered to be important to the acute health of the infant and the maturation of its intestinal system. Breast-feeding is the natural way to achieve optimal gut flora. However, for infants who are supplemented, weaned from breast milk, or not breast-fed, adding prebiotics to formula is a likely candidate for achieving breast-fed gut flora. Prebiotics are a selectively fermented ingredient that allows specific changes, both in the composition and/or activity in the gastrointestinal microflora, that confer benefits. Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are the usual target genera for prebiotics. The aim of the study was done to evaluate efficiency, tolerability &safety of prebiotics milk formula as well as to study its impact on inflammatory markers as serum CD4 & CD8 This study was carried on 72 full term apparently healthy infants who met all inclusion &exclusion criteria &grouped into 3 groups (group 1: included 24 healthy breast fed ,group 2: included 24 standard formula infants, group 3: included 24 prebiotics formula infants. Our results showed that no significant difference was detected between 3 studied groups regarding anthropometric measurements &the prebiotics infant group recorded better weight gain. Also they showed significant decrease in colic ,diarrhea& significant increase in stool frequency but there were no significant difference between the 3 groups regarding vomiting ,abdominal distension &constipation. The percentage (%) of lymphocytes and it’s delta change were significantly nigher among infants receiving prebiotics infant formula compared to infants receiving standard formula as well as breast fed infants.