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BackgroundIntestinal microbiota of breast-fed infants is plenty of beneficial bifidobacteria. We aimed to determine whether an infant formula supplemented with probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CECT7210 (B. infantis IM1) is effective at reducing diarrhea incidence in healthy term infants.MethodsDouble-blinded, randomized, multicenter, controlled clinical trial, where formula-fed infants (<3 months) received an infant formula supplemented (Probiotic) or not (Control) with 10 cfu/g of B. infantis IM1 over 12 weeks. Diarrheas, growth, digestive symptoms, stool bifidobacteria, and microbiota were assessed.ResultsIn all, 97 (Control) and 93 (Probiotic) infants were randomized, and 78 (Control) and 73 (Probiotic) completed the 12 week-follow-up. In the overall study period, a median of 0.29±1.07 and 0.05±0.28 diarrhea events/infant was observed in the Control and Probiotic groups, respectively (P=0.059). This trend to less diarrhea episodes in the Probiotic group reached statistical significance at 8 weeks (0.12±0.47 vs. 0.0±0.0 events/infant, P=0.047). Constipation incidence was higher (odds ratio (OR) 2.67 (1.09-6.50)) and stool frequency lower (2.0±1.0 vs. 2.6±1.3 stools/day, P=0.038) in the Control group after 4 weeks. No differences were found at other time points nor in other digestive symptoms, growth, or formula intake.ConclusionA B. infantis IM1-supplemented infant formula may reduce diarrhea episodes, being safe, well tolerated, and associated with lower constipation prevalence.

Aim: To validate the bioimpedance analyzer (BIA) Tanita BC-418 for its clinical and epidemiological use in children compared to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Methods: A cross-sectional validation study was performed in 7-year-old children using anthropometry, BIA and DXA. Whole body fat and lean masses were assessed through BIA (BIA_outputs) and DXA. Fat mass index (FMI) was calculated. Predictive equations were derived from raw impedance and anthropometric measures; results obtained from these predictive equations (BIA_regressions) were also compared to DXA. Results: 171 children (84 boys) were studied. BIA_outputs and DXA results revealed small differences for lean mass (1%) and moderate differences for fat mass (13%). BIA_regressions results showed small differences for both body lean and fat masses (0.21 and 4.62%, respectively). Sensitivity and specificity to correctly classify children >90.8th percentile of FMI was 84.6 (64.3-94.9) and 95.9% (90.8-98.3) for BIA_outputs and 100 (98.1-100.0) and 95.9% (92.3-99.4) for BIA_regressions, respectively. Conclusions: Tanita BC-418 may be valid for epidemiological studies assessing whole body composition. Its measurements may help in the diagnosis and monitoring of childhood overweight and obesity. The validation of predictive equations in specific populations may increase the precision of the technique.