The effect of a fructo-oligosaccharide supplemented formula on gut flora of preterm infants.

Aim: The intestinal flora of breast-fed infants is generally dominated by bifidobacteria which have beneficial properties. Their presence is due to various components of breast milk, including prebiotic substances. This prospective double-blind study compared the numbers of bifidobacteria in the stool flora of bottle-fed preterm infants randomized to receive for 14 days either a formula with prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharides at a concentration of 0.

The effect of neonatal jaundice on biotinidase activity.

Background: Jaundice is one of the most common and one of the vexing problems that can occur in newborns. A newborn screening test for biotinidase deficiency has been added to many national screening programmes.

Aim: To clarify the problem of false-positive screening tests in neonates, especially in term babies, we evaluated the biotinidase activity in the serum of fullterm, premature and small-for-dates newborn infants with jaundice.