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.
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
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
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 Prosyneo Sensitive nutritionally supports the immune system by beneficially modulating gut flora.¹²⁻¹⁴ It’s designed to be easier to digest, with partially hydrolysed protein allowing for a quicker gastrointestinal transit compared to a whole protein formula.¹⁵⁻¹⁷
Aptamil Profutura is a range of nutritionally complete premium infant formulas for babies, from birth to six months of age, requiring a partial or complete breast milk substitute. Aptamil Profutura contains a prebiotic blend clinically shown to provide long-term allergy protection through immunity when introduced within the first 6 months of life.¹² ¹⁸ ¹⁹
Our Nutricia Careline team of dieticians, 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:
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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. 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 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. |
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