ADECUACIÓN DE LA ALIMENTACIÓN COMPLEMENTARIA EN DIFERENTES ESCENARIOS DE COMPONENTE LÁCTEO DURANTE EL PRIMER AÑO DE VIDA / ADEQUACY OF COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING IN DIFFERENT DAIRY COMPONENT SCENARIOS DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE

Introducción: El primer año de vida del niño constituye una de las etapas más vulnerables del ciclo de vida. La leche humana es el alimento óptimo desde el nacimiento hasta los 2 años o lo que la familia desee. Aunque muy pocas circunstancias clínicas contraindican la lactancia, menos de la mitad de los niños la reciben en forma exclusiva hasta los 6 meses. En esas situaciones, se plantea la controversia acerca de la mejor opción de leche a utilizar, en combinación con los alimentos complementarios. Desarrollo: En circunstancias en que la lactancia materna (LM) se halla disminuida o discontinuada, la recomendación nutricionalmente más adecuada es el uso de fórmulas infantiles. Diferentes motivos determinan que la leche de vaca (LV) sea la última opción, por su propio perfil de nutrientes y su condición de factor de riesgo de deficiencia de hierro en menores de 2 años. Se desarrollaron cuatro escenarios según la edad del niño/a: 6 a 8 meses y 9 a 12 meses, que combinan LM, LV o fórmula, y ejemplifican tipo y cantidades de alimentos complementarios junto con los resultados en términos de adecuación de energía y nutrientes. Conclusiones: Un adecuado manejo del componente lácteo en el primer año de vida contempla eventuales inadecuaciones cuando la alimentación complementaria es precoz, tardía o inadecuada en densidad nutricional, y representa una ventana crítica para un buen crecimiento y el desarrollo, la conformación de una microbiota abundante y diversa y el desarrollo de un patrón gustativo saludable

Introduction: The first year is one of the most vulnerable period of the life cycle. Human milk is the optimal food from birth to 2 years or whatever the family wants. Although very few clinical circumstances contraindicate breastfeeding, less than half of children receive it exclusively up to 6 months. In these cases, controversy arises about the best option of milk, in combination with complementary foods. Development: In circumstances in which breastfeeding (BF) is reduced or discontinued, the most nutritionally appropriate recommendation is the use of infant formulas. Different reasons determine that cow's milk (CV) is the last option, due to its own nutrient profile and its condition as a risk factor for iron deficiency below 2 years. Four scenarios were developed according to the child's age: 6 to 8 months and 9 to 12 months, combining BF, LV or formula, exemplifying type and quantities of complementary foods and the results in terms of energy and nutrients adequacy. Conclusions: Adequate management of the dairy component in the first year of life, contemplating possible inadequacies when complementary feeding is early, late or inadequate in nutritional density represents a critical window for good growth and development, the development of an abundant and diverse microbiota and of a healthy taste pattern

Randomized, direct comparison study of Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 versus multi-strained Bacillus clausii probiotics for the treatment of pediatric acute gastroenteritis.

BACKGROUND: The choice of an appropriate probiotic for pediatric acute gastroenteritis (PAGE) can be confusing. Our aim was to compare the efficacy and safety of 2 probiotics (Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 vs a 4-strain mixture of Bacillus clausii O/C, SIN, N/R, T) for the treatment of PAGE. METHODS: A 2-arm parallel, randomized trial recruited children (6 months to 5 years old) with mild-moderate acute diarrhea, from 8 centers in Argentina. A total of 317 children were enrolled and blindly randomized to 5 days of either S boulardii CNCM I-745 (n = 159) or a 4-strain mixture of B clausii (n = 158), then followed for 7 days post-probiotic treatment. A stool sample was collected at inclusion for pathogen identification. The primary outcome was duration of diarrhea defined as the time from enrollment to the last loose stool followed by the first 24-hour period with stool consistency improvement. Secondary outcomes included frequency of loose stools/day, severity of diarrhea, number reporting no diarrhea at Day 6, time-to-first formed stool, recurrence of diarrhea by study end (Day 12) and safety outcomes. RESULTS: Three hundred twelve (98%) children completed the study. S boulardii CNCM I-745 showed a significant reduction (P = .04) in the mean duration of diarrhea (64.6 hours, 95% confidence interval [CI] 56.5-72.8) compared to those given B clausii (78.0 hours, 95% CI 69.9-86.1). Both probiotics showed improvement in secondary outcomes and were well-tolerated. CONCLUSION: In this study, S boulardii CNCM I-745 demonstrated better efficacy than B clausii mix for reducing the duration of pediatric acute diarrhea.