Are There Any Benefits Of Prebiotics For Babies?

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Prebiotics for babies may help promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria. At the 6th Meeting of the International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) in 2008, dietary prebiotics was defined as “a selectively fermented ingredient that results in specific changes in the composition and/or activity of the gastrointestinal microbiota, thus conferring benefit(s) upon host health” (1).

Thus, prebiotics are different from probiotics and have different functions, which is elaborated in this article. This post also discusses whether babies require prebiotics and their benefits, safety, and food sources.

Difference Between Prebiotics And Probiotics For Babies

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Prebiotics are often confused with probiotics. There are differences in them though, that can be best understood through their definitions provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (2).

Probiotics are food supplements that contain viable/live good bacteria that cause alterations in the bacterial colonies of the host’s intestines. These bacteria keep the gut healthy.

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the favorable growth and activity of one or more probiotic bacteria present in the gut.

Therefore, probiotics are food matter that provide the body with good bacteria, while prebiotics work as ‘food’ for the gut bacteria itself. Healthy gut flora leads to their adequate population, which in turn keeps the digestive system functioning well.

Are Prebiotics Safe For Babies?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), prebiotics added to infant formula do not appear to be harmful to healthy infants, but there is currently not enough evidence to support the routine use of prebiotics in formula.

Do Babies Need Prebiotics?

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It is not entirely known if babies need prebiotics. If your baby is fed on breast milk, then they can safely get the prebiotics from it. If your baby is on a formula diet, then you will have to speak to your doctor about introducing a prebiotic infant formula since standard infant formula may contain little or no prebiotics.

A study noted that babies who were fed prebiotic infant formula had gut microbiotaⁱXThe microorganisms present in the GI tract that aid in different body functions. similar to breastfed infants and showed better stool consistency (3). However, it is not known if prebiotic infant formula-fed infants have an advantage over standard infant formula-fed babies in the long term. Speak to your doctor about the pros and cons of prebiotic infant formula for your baby.

What Are Different Types Of Prebiotics?

There are several types of prebiotics. The majority of the prebiotics are a subset of carbohydrate group called oligosaccharide. The following are the different variations of oligosaccharides that work as prebiotics (1) (4).

1. Galactooligosaccharides: It comes from the sugar called galactose, which is commonly found in milk, including human milk, and milk products like yogurt, etc.

2. Fructans: This category consists of inulin and fructo-oligosaccharide. Inulin is generally found in root vegetables. Fructose is found in several fruits and vegetables.

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3. Starch and glucose-derived oligosaccharides: These often result from the breakdown of large molecules of starch and glucose. Starch is commonly found in grains, while glucose is found in a variety of fruits and vegetables.

What Are The Benefits Of Prebiotics For Babies?

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Prebiotics are considered functional foods because they provide health benefits that go beyond basic nutrition (5).

A few not very conclusive studies, prove the efficacy of prebiotics in managing the following conditions in babies:

• Strengthening the immune system
• Atopic eczema
• Recurrent wheezing
• Allergic urticariaⁱXAlso known as hives, characterized by raised, itchy bumps on the skin due to an allergic reaction.
• Allergic dermatitisⁱXAn inflammation of the skin accompanied by itchiness and dryness commonly triggered by an allergen.
• Diarrhea
• Chronic ulcerative colitisⁱXAn autoimmune disorder that causes sores, bleeding, and diarrhea in the colon and rectum.

Enriching the baby’s formula with prebiotics is also said to lower the pH of stool, stimulate bowel movements, and aid in improving the consistency of stool (3). Prebiotics might lead to an overall improvement in the population of the gut microbiota.

Did you know?

Prebiotics nourish the bacteria in the gut that produce vital vitamins, such as vitamin B, which is necessary for metabolism, and vitamin K, which encourages healthy blood clotting (9).

Food Sources That Contain Prebiotics For Babies

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Although they are available as supplements, prebiotics occur naturally in several common foods. The following are some natural sources of prebiotics for babies (2) (4) (5).

• Human milk and prebiotic infant formula – only source of prebiotics for babies younger than six months
• Chicory root
• Yogurt
• Buttermilk
• Palm fruit
• Jackfruit
• Rambutan
• Young coconut
• Okra
• Onion
• Artichoke
• Asparagus
• Banana
• Garlic
• Soybean
• Beans
• Cereals

Things to know

Some other food sources that contain prebiotics are sugar beet, honey, wheat, barley, tomato, and rye (1).

Infographic: Foods That Can Provide Prebiotics To Babies

Prebiotics are available as supplements but may not be suitable for babies. It is best that babies get the required prebiotics from their food. Scroll through the infographic below to identify dietary sources of prebiotics suitable for babies. Save and share it with parents of other infants too!

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team

Are you wondering if you should give probiotics to your child? Learn the pros and cons of giving probiotics to your little one with the following video and make an informed decision.

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Dr. Ashraf KasemMS

Dr. Ashraf Kasem is a pediatric specialist with 10 years experience in pediatrics, neonatology and pediatric nutrition. Having a pediatrics practice in Mansoura, Egypt, he is an influencer in Egypt and Arabic countries with more than 500,000 followers on his Facebook page. Dr. Kasem graduated from Mansoura University and did his masters degree in Pediatrics from Al Azhar University.more

Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children. Then she worked as a nutrition faculty and clinical nutrition coach in...more

Rohit GarooBSc, MBA

Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier's College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University. Also, he holds a certificate in Developmental Psychology from The University of Queensland and loves to expand his knowledge through certifications in various...more

Ghazia ShahMSc, MA, BEd

Ghazia is a scientist-turned-writer with three years of research experience in Cancer Biology. She did her masters degree in Biotechnology at the University of Kashmir and bachelors in Education at the same university. Ghazia then delved deeper into the science of language with a masters in English. With a Functional English certificate from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), she...more