Real-world study in infants fed with an infant formula with two human milk oligosaccharides.

Introduction: Introduction: human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are an important component of human milk supporting the development of a balanced intestinal microbiota and immune protection in breastfed infants. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated that infant formulas supplemented with the HMOs 2'-fucosyllactose (2'FL) and lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT) are safe, well-tolerated, and support normal growth. This Real-World Evidence (RWE) study aimed to evaluate growth and tolerance in infants consuming a formula supplemented with 1 g/L of 2'FL and 0.5 g/L of LNnT, and included a mixed-feeding group never studied before in RCTs. Participants and methods: this open-label, prospective study was conducted at six centers in Spain, and included healthy, exclusively breastfed infants (BF group), an exclusively formula-fed group (FF) who received a milk-based formula with 2' FL and LNnT, and a group mixed fed with both formula and human milk (MF), for 8 weeks. Co-primary outcomes were growth (anthropometry) and gastrointestinal tolerance (Infant Gastrointestinal Symptom Questionnaire, IGSQ). Secondary outcomes included formula satisfaction and adverse events (AEs). Results: 159 infants completed the study (66 FF, 48 MF, and 45 BF). Mean z-scores for growth were similar between all groups and within ± 0.5 of WHO medians at week 8. Composite IGSQ scores demonstrated low GI distress in all groups, with no significant group differences at baseline, week 4, or week 8. Incidence of AEs was low overall, and comparable across groups. Conclusions: in this RWE study examining a HMO-supplemented infant formula, growth and tolerance outcomes were similar to RCT findings, supporting the effectiveness of this early feeding option.

Introducción: Introducción: los oligosacáridos de la leche materna (HMO) contribuyen a desarrollar la inmunoprotección y la microbiota intestinal. Los ensayos aleatorizados (RCT) han demostrado que las fórmulas enriquecidas con 2'fucosilactosa (2'FL) y lacto-N-neotetraosa (LNnT) son seguras, bien toleradas y favorecen el crecimiento. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido valorar el crecimiento, la seguridad y la tolerancia digestiva en lactantes alimentados con una fórmula enriquecida con 1 g/L de 2'FL y 0,5 g/L de LNnT, con datos de la vida real (RWE), incluyendo un grupo de alimentación mixta no estudiado antes en los RCT. Participantes y métodos: estudio prospectivo abierto en seis hospitales españoles que incluyó lactantes sanos alimentados con leche materna (BF), con fórmula enriquecida en 2'FL y LNnT (FF) o con mezcla de ambas (MF), durante ocho semanas. Se valoraron el crecimiento (antropometría), la tolerancia gastrointestinal (cuestionario IGSQ) y los acontecimientos adversos. Resultados: 159 lactantes completaron el estudio (66, 48 y 45, en los grupos FF, MF y BF, respectivamente). Las puntuaciones Z antropométricas a la semana 8 fueron similares entre los grupos y se hallaron dentro del rango de ± 0,5 de la normalidad. Las puntuaciones IGSQ compuestas mostraron un bajo malestar digestivo, sin diferencias significativas entre los grupos, al inicio y en las semanas 4 y 8. La incidencia de eventos adversos fue baja y comparable entre los grupos. Conclusiones: en este estudio RWE que evaluó una fórmula para lactantes enriquecida en HMO, los resultados sobre el crecimiento, la tolerancia y la seguridad fueron similares a los obtenidos en los RCT, respaldando su eficacia como alimentación temprana opcional.

Strawberry processing does not affect the production and urinary excretion of urolithins, ellagic acid metabolites, in humans.

The study of fruit and vegetable processing and its effects on the levels of health-promoting constituents and their bioavailability and metabolism is very relevant to understanding the role of these constituents in human health. Strawberry polyphenols, and particularly ellagitannins and ellagic acid, have been associated with the health benefits of this berry for humans. These compounds are transformed into urolithins by the gut microbiota, and these metabolites exert several biological activities that could be responsible for the health effects of strawberries. Processing potentially increases the extraction of ellagitannins from the strawberry achenes and the release of ellagic acid from ellagitannins. It is of interest to evaluate the effect of processing on strawberry ellagitannin microbial metabolism compared with fresh strawberries. This study shows that no significant differences in the production and excretion of urolithins were found between the intake of fresh strawberries and that of a thermally processed strawberry puree containing the same amount of strawberries. Processing increases the amount of free ellagic acid 2.5-fold, but this had no effect on the transformation in urolithins by the gut microbiota or in the excretion of urolithin metabolites (urolithin glucuronides) in urine, showing that the release of ellagic acid from ellagitannins is not a relevant factor affecting the microbial metabolism. All of the volunteers produced urolithin A, but only 3 of 20 volunteers produced and excreted urolithin B. It is confirmed that some volunteers were efficient producers of urolithins, whereas other produced much lower amounts. These results show that processing does not modify the potential health effects of strawberry polyphenols.

Evaluación nutricional y estado antioxidante de un grupo de ancianos institucionalizados de Murcia (España) / Nutritional and antioxidant status of an institutionalized elderly group in Murcia (Spain)

El rápido envejecimiento de la población está originando un gran número de estudios encaminado a mejorar la calidad de vida, considerando la alimentación como un factor de riesgo muy importante en esta etapa de vida. Los objetivos del presente estudio han sido evaluar el estado nutricional de un grupo de ancianos institucionalizados residentes en Murcia (Murcia, España) y comparar la dieta con indicadores antropométricos y bioquímicos, prestando especial atención al estado antioxidante total. La evaluación dietética mostró un exceso en las ingestas de proteínas y grasas, y una deficiencia en el consumo de hidratos de carbono, fibra dietética, cinc, yodo, y vitaminas A, E y D. Se observó un alto porcentaje de sobrepeso no relacionado con la ingesta energética. Aunque el estado antioxidante total plasmático fue bajo (0.62 mM eq Trolox y 0.98 mM eq FeII), el riesgo oxidativo estimado en el grupo de ancianos fue bajo de acuerdo a las concentraciones plasmáticas de vitaminas antioxidantes (vitamina C, retinol y tocoferol)