Goat milk formula may have strong prebiotic and anti-infection properties, that could protect infants against gastrointestinal infect🐻ions, recent findings suggest.
While cow milk formula🌠 is the most widely used alternative to breastfeeding, goat milk is considered to be closer to human milk in some respects, especially oligosaccharides.
Goat milk formula may have strong prebiotic and anti-infection properties, that could protect infants against gastrointestinal infect🐻ions, recent findings suggest.
The research looked at oligosaccharides, a type of prebiotic th𝕴at can boost the growth of beneficial bacteria, and protect against harmful bacteria in t💝he gut.
The research, published in the Britis💖h Journal of Nutrition, found 14 naturally-occurring prebiotic olꦇigosaccharides in the goat milk formula. Five of these are also found in human breast milk.
According to the team of researchers, the study was believed to be the first t🐲o reveal the diversity of oligosaccharides in goat's milk-based infant formula and their similarity to human milk.
"The study indicates the prebiotic oligosaccharides in goat milk formula are effective at selectively promoting the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. While these laboratory results are promising, further research including clinical trials will help us to confirm these benefits for infants," explained Hars♕harn Gill, lead investigator of the study.
Human milk contains an abundant supply and diverse array of oligosaccharides, that are known to offer significant health benefits to babies, including the establishment and maintenanc🥂e of healthy gut microflora, immune development, a😼nd protection against gastrointestinal infections.
When breastfeeding is not possible or insufficient, infant formulas are commonly used as an alternative, but there is limited information available about the oligosaccharides they may contai🗹n or their likely health benefits.
The new study examined the presence of naturally occurring oligosaccharides i🦋n two goat milk formulas (Oli6 Stage 1 for babies aged 0-6 months and Oli6 Stage 2 for bab💯ies aged 6-12 months), and their prebiotic and anti-infection properties.
While cow milk formula is the most widely used alternative to breastfeeding, goat milk is con☂sidered to be closer to human milk in some respects, especially oligosaccharidꦯes.
Th🍰e study found the natural prebiotic oligosaccharides in the goat milk formula were effective in promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria (bifidobacteria), and inhibiting the ability of harmf🐽ul bacteria such as pathogenic E. coli to attach to human intestinal cells.
Almost one-third of all case🌟s of diarrhoea in children are attributed to pat𝄹hogenic E. coli bacteria.
The researchers found two types of oligosaccharides - fucosylated and sialylated - were most heavily present in the goat mil💯k formula.
"Fucosylated are the most abundant oligosaccharides in human milk and are the focus of significant commercial a🅘nd regulatory interest. These oligosaccharides have been shown to play a significant role in anti-infection properties of breast milk" Gill asserted.
(ANI)