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Pro- and prebiotic supplementation induces a transient reduction in hemoglobin concentration in infants.

Author(s): Kuitunen M, Kukkonen K, Savilahti E

Affiliation(s): Skin and Allergy Hospital, Finland. mikael.kuitunen@hus.fi

Publication date & source: 2009-11, J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr., 49(5):626-30.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

OBJECTIVES:: Regarding safety, we investigated the effect of prenatal probiotic and 6 months of pro- and prebiotic supplementation of infants on their hematologic values at 6 months and 2 years and factors affecting these values. PATIENTS AND METHODS:: In a prospective randomized controlled probiotic intervention trial in infants at high risk for allergy, we obtained blood samples consecutively from 98 infants at 6 months and from 658 children at 2 years to measure hematologic values. We collected fecal samples at 3 and 6 months to measure immunologic development by calprotectin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and immunoglobulin A. RESULTS:: At 6 months, infants in the probiotic group had significantly lower hemoglobin (Hb) values than did the placebo group, mean (SD): 119.8 g/L (6.3) versus 123.3 g/L (8.4), P = 0.025. Adjustment for factors that might affect Hb values (breast-feeding duration, solid-food introduction, and sex), revealed no need for adjustment. A significant negative correlation emerged between Hb values at 6 months and fecal calprotectin at age 3 months r = -0.301, P = 0.009, which was affected neither by breast-feeding, sex, nor study group. At 2 years, hematologic values in both groups became similar. CONCLUSIONS:: Probiotics cause a gut mucosal inflammation with decreased Hb values during intervention, corrected after halting the supplementation.

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