Adding prebiotics to baby formulas boosts their memories

Adding prebiotics to baby formulas may significantly boost infants’ memories, new research reveals.

Although unclear why, researchers found piglets fed prebiotic-rich formulas are significantly better at recognizing objects they have come across before, a US study found.

This is thought to be due to prebiotics’ effect on ‘good bacteria’ in the gut.

Breast milk naturally contains prebiotics, however, this research may aid the development of better infant formulas for women who cannot, or chose not to, breastfeed.

Prebiotics are indigestible food ingredients, such as fiber, that act as fertilizers to stimulate the growth of bugs in the digestive tract. Probiotics specifically introduce new bacteria into the gut.

Adding prebiotics to baby formulas may significantly boost infants’ memories (stock)

COULD WATER CONTAINING ‘GOOD BACTERIA’ COMBAT OBESITY?

A bottle of water a day that boosts youngsters’ ‘good’ bacteria may combat childhood obesity, research revealed in June 2017.

Water containing a prebiotic supplement should make obese children a healthy weight after just one year, a study found.

This compared to a 17.6lb (8kg) weight gain among children receiving a placebo, the research adds.

Study author Professor Raylene Reimer from the University of Calgary, said: ‘Powdered fiber, mixed in a water bottle, taken once a day is all we asked the children to change, and we got, what we consider, some pretty exciting results – it has been fantastic.’

The researchers asked 42 obese or overweight children aged seven to 12 years old to receive either a prebiotic, known as oligofructose-enriched inulin, or placebo once a day for 16 weeks.

The prebiotic was a white powder mixed in water.

How the research was carried out

Researchers from the University of Illinois gave piglets aged between two and 33 days old a formula based on cow’s milk that contained 2g each of the prebiotics polydextrose and galactooligosaccharide.

Polydextrose is a naturally-occurring prebiotic, while galactooligosaccharide is a synthetic carbohydrate with prebiotic activity.

At 25 days old, the piglets were tested on their ability to recognize objects and locations, as well as respond to stress.

Memory tests included giving the piglets new toys, as well as ones they had seen before, and seeing which they played with the longest.

At the end of the study, blood, brain and intestinal tissue samples were taken from the animals.

Piglets were chosen as their digestive system and brain development resembles human babies more closely than other lab animals, such as rats.

‘Very strong benefits’

Results reveal piglets that are fed prebiotic-rich formulas perform significantly better in memory tests. They also spend less time exploring items they know.

Tissue sample findings show the animals given prebiotics have greater volatile fatty acid levels, which are excreted by bacteria as they digest prebiotics.

This demonstrates prebiotics have an impact on piglets’ bacteria levels, which may influence their memories.

Study author Associate professor Ryan Dilger said: ‘There are so many ways we can alter the composition of the microbiota and they can have very strong benefits.

‘Promoting good “gut health” remains a strong focus in the field of nutrition.’

The findings were published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk