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Let's talk immunity!

For many parents the dream of starting a family is years in the making. Then, nine months of pregnancy go by in a flash before that special moment arrives. With a new-born in their arms, it’s clear to parents that they will do anything to keep them safe from harm.
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Download infographic – Vivinal® Lactoferrin

Our belief 

Our belief 

The immune system plays an essential role in protecting an infant from illness. But it is complex; the way an infant’s immune system develops and functions depends on a variety of elements, many of which are not yet fully understood.  What we do know is that for a new-born, breast milk offers the most important source of defence , because it contains protective proteins such as immunoglobulins and lactoferrin, alongside human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) [1] . These compounds impact the immune system in a number of different ways, from demonstrating anti-pathogenic effects and supporting gut barrier function to balancing microbiota [1].

At FrieslandCampina Ingredients we believe that delivering the right combination of nutrients with the right mechanisms makes all the difference in building and strengthening infant immunity. That’s why we offer a broad range of ingredients that all offer their own specific potential to support the infant immune system [5-41].

Immunity is of top priority for parents

Immunity is of top priority for parents

According to a recent global survey, 59% of parents are concerned about their infant’s immune health, which makes immune health the Number 1 concern amongst parents of 0-1 year olds. Parents indicate that immune-related symptoms such as diarrhoea, runny nose, cough and fever have affected their children  most frequently in the last six months.

Important immunity mechanisms in early life

When a baby is born, its immune system has not yet fully matured. During the final stage of pregnancy and when breast feeding, the baby receives a certain amount of bioactive proteins (e.g. immunoglobulins) from the mother, which offers a great start when it comes to inhibiting pathogens [2].

However, those bioactive protein levels decrease within a few months following birth, and are absent entirely if breast feeding is not possible. In such cases, it’s all the more important that a new-born’s immune system develops quickly and grows strong to protect the infant when exposed to pathogens and other external threats. As 70% of the immune system is in the gut [3], gut health plays an important role in immunity. In other words: the inside matters, and the immune system needs to be built with the right support from within.

From a scientific standpoint, there are three key elements that help to build and strengthen the immune system, via different but interactive mechanisms: microbiota, gut barrier and anti-pathogenic effects [4]. Some specific nutrients in human milk support these 3 mechanism, in one way or another  [1]

Related Ingredients

 

Vivinal® Lactoferrin

Can strengthen immunity by reducing the risk of infections14-20​

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Vivinal® GOS

Supports immunity by stimulating growth of healthy bacteria (e.g. Bifidobacteria) in the infant gut21,22, reducing the risk of infections23-25 and supporting gut barrier function26,27

 

 

Vivinal® MFGM

Supports the development of the immune system via its potential role in gut maturation5-9, gut barrier function and by reducing the risk of infections10-13​

 

 

Aequival® 2’-FL

Can support immunity by stimulating the growth of Bifidobacteria28,29, reducing the risk of infections30-33, and via its potential role in gut maturation34 and ​anti-inflammation35,36

 

 

Vana-Sana ® Micro-encapsulated LC-PUFA oils

Features DHA and ARA, which may support immune development and function, via the cells of the adaptive immune system37-40, while assisting gut barrier integrity41

References

  1. Field, C. J. Recent Advances in Nutritional Sciences The Immunological Components of Human Milk and Their Effect on Immune Development in Infants 1 , 2. 1–4 (2005).
  2. Turfkruyer, M. & Verhasselt, V. Breast milk and its impact on maturation of the neonatal immune system. Curr Opin Infect Dis 28, 199–206 (2015).
  3. Vighi, G., Marcucci, F., Sensi, L., Di Cara, G. & Frati, F. Allergy and the gastrointestinal system. Clin. Exp. Immunol. 153, 3–6 (2008)
  4. Ximenez, C. & Torres, J. Development of Microbiota in Infants and its Role in Maturation of Gut Mucosa and Immune System. Arch. Med. Res. 48, 666–680 (2017)
  5. Anderson RC, MacGibbon AKH, Haggarty N, et al (2018) Bovine dairy complex lipids improve in vitro measures of small intestinal epithelial barrier integrity. PLoS One. 2018 Jan 5;13(1):e0190839.
  6. Motouri M, Matsuyama H, Yamamura J, et al (2003) Milk sphingomyelin accelerates enzymatic and morphological maturation of the intestine in artificially reared rats. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2003 Feb;36(2):241-7
  7. Lee H, Zavaleta N, Chen S-Y, et al (2018) Effect of bovine milk fat globule membranes as a complementary food on the serum metabolome and immune markers of 6-11-month-old Peruvian infants. npj Sci Food 2:6.
  8. Snow DR, Ward RE, Olsen a, et al (2011) Membrane-rich milk fat diet provides protection against gastrointestinal leakiness in mice treated with lipopolysaccharide. J Dairy Sci 94:2201–2212.
  9. Bhinder G, Allaire JM, Garcia C, et al (2017) Milk Fat Globule Membrane Supplementation in Formula Modulates the Neonatal Gut Microbiome and Normalizes Intestinal Development. Sci Rep 7:45274.
  10. Zavaleta, N. et al. Efficacy of an MFGM-enriched complementary food in diarrhea, anemia, and micronutrient status in infants. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 53, 561–568 (2011).
  11. Timby, N. et al. Infections in infants fed formula supplemented with bovine milk fat globule membranes. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 60, 384–389 (2015).
  12. Li F, Wu SS, Berseth CL, et al (2019) Improved Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Associated with Bovine Milk Fat Globule Membrane and Lactoferrin in Infant Formula: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. J Pediatr 215:24-31.e8.
  13. Veereman-Wauters, G. et al. Milk fat globule membrane (INPULSE) enriched formula milk decreases febrile episodes and may improve behavioral regulation in young children. Nutrition 28, 749–752 (2012).
  14. Donovan, Sharon M. 2016. “The Role of Lactoferrin in Gastrointestinal and Immune Development and Function: A Preclinical Perspective.” Journal of Pediatrics 173. Elsevier Inc.: S16–28. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.02.072.
  15. Manzoni, P. Clinical Benefits of Lactoferrin for Infants and Children. J. Pediatr. 173, S43–S52 (2016).
  16. Chen, K. et al. Effect of bovine lactoferrin from iron-fortified formulas on diarrhea and respiratory tract infections of weaned infants in a randomized controlled trial. Nutrition 32, 222–227 (2016[DD(1] )
  17. King, J. C. et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study of bovine lactoferrin supplementation in bottle-fed infants. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 44, 245–251 (2007).
  18. Gao, Y. et al. Enteral Lactoferrin Supplementation for Preventing Sepsis and Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants : A Meta‑Analysis With Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Front. Pharmacol. 11, 1186 (2020).
  19. Tarnow-Mordi, William O., Mohamed E. Abdel-Latif, Andrew Martin, Mohan Pammi, Kristy Robledo, Paolo Manzoni, David Osborn, et al. 2020. “The Effect of Lactoferrin Supplementation on Death or Major Morbidity in Very Low Birthweight Infants (LIFT): A Multicentre, Double-Blind, Randomised Controlled Trial.” The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health 4 (6): 444–54.
  20. Johnston, W. H. et al. Growth and tolerance of formula with lactoferrin in infants through one year of age: double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. BMC Pediatr. 15, 173 (2015).
  21. Ben, X.-M. et al. Supplementation of milk formula with galacto-oligosaccharides improves intestinal micro-flora and fermentation in infants. Chin. Med. J. (Engl). 117, 927–931 (2004).
  22. Fanaro, S. et al. Galacto-oligosaccharides are bifidogenic and safe at weaning: a double-blind randomized multicenter study. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 48, 82–8 (2009).
  23. Arslanoglu, S., Moro, G. E. & Boehm, G. Early supplementation of prebiotic oligosaccharides protects formula-fed infants against infections during the first 6 months of life. J. Nutr. 137, 2420–4 (2007).
  24. Arslanoglu, S. et al. Early dietary intervention with a mixture of prebiotic oligosaccharides reduces the incidence of allergic manifestations and infections during the first two years of life. J. Nutr. 138, 1091–1095 (2008).
  25. Ranucci, G. et al. Galacto-oligosaccharide/polidextrose enriched formula protects against respiratory infections in infants at high risk of atopy: A randomized clinical trial. Nutrients 10, (2018).
  26. Akbari, P. et al. Galacto-oligosaccharides Protect the Intestinal Barrier by Maintaining the Tight Junction Network and Modulating the Inflammatory Responses after a Challenge with the Mycotoxin Deoxynivalenol in Human Caco-2 Cell. J Nutr 145, 1604–1613 (2015).
  27. Krumbeck, J. A., Rasmussen, H. E., Hutkins, R. W., Clarke, J. & Shawron, K. Probiotic Bifidobacterium strains and galactooligosaccharides improve intestinal barrier function in obese adults but show no synergism when used together as synbiotics. Microbiome 6, 1–16 (2018).
  28. Yu, Z. T. et al. The principal fucosylated oligosaccharides of human milk exhibit prebiotic properties on cultured infant microbiota. Glycobiology 23, 169–177 (2013).
  29. Lewis, Z. T. et al. Maternal fucosyltransferase 2 status affects the gut bifidobacterial communities of breastfed infants. Microbiome 3, 13 (2015).
  30. Weichert, S. et al. Bioengineered 2’-fucosyllactose and 3-fucosyllactose inhibit the adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enteric pathogens to human intestinal and respiratory cell lines. Nutr. Res. 33, 831–8 (2013).
  31. Morrow, A. L. et al. Human milk oligosaccharides are associated with protection against diarrhea in breast-fed infants. J. Pediatr. 145, 297–303 (2004).
  32. Puccio, G. et al. Effects of Infant Formula with Human Milk Oligosaccharides on Growth and Morbidity: A Randomized Multicenter Trial. JPGN 64, 624–631 (2017).
  33. Reverri, E., Devitt, A., Kajzer, J., Baggs, G. & Borschel, M. Review of the Clinical Experiences of Feeding Infants Formula Containing the Human Milk Oligosaccharide 2′-Fucosyllactose. Nutrients 10, 1346 (2018).
  34. Holscher, H. D., Davis, S. R. & Tappenden, K. A. Human milk oligosaccharides influence maturation of human intestinal Caco-2Bbe and HT-29 cell lines. J. Nutr. 144, 586–91 (2014).
  35. Autran, C. A., Schoterman, M. H. C., Jantscher-Krenn, E., Kamerling, J. P. & Bode, L. Sialylated galacto-oligosaccharides and 2’-fucosyllactose reduce necrotising enterocolitis in neonatal rats. Br. J. Nutr. 116, 294–299 (2016).
  36. Goehring, K. C. et al. Similar to Those Who Are Breastfed , Infants Fed a Formula Containing 2’-Fucosyllactose Have Lower Inflammatory Cytokines in a Randomized. J Nutr 146, 2559–2566 (2016).
  37. Field CJ, Van Aerde JE, Robinson LE, Clandinin MT. (2008) Effect of providing a formula supplemented with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on immunity in full-term neonates. Br J Nutr. 2008 Jan;99(1):91-9.
  38. Lapillone A. Enteral and Parenteral Lipid Requirements of Preterm Infants. In: Koletzko B, Poindexter B, Uauy R, editors. Nutr. Care Preterm Infants Sci. Basis Pract. Guidel., Basel: Karger; 2014, p. 82–98. doi:10.1159/000358460.
  39. Birch EE, Khoury JC, Berseth CL, Castañeda YS, Couch JM, Bean J, et al. The Impact of Early Nutrition on Incidence of Allergic Manifestations and Common Respiratory Illnesses in Children. J Pediatr 2010;156:902-906.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.01.002.
  40. Field CJ, Van Aerde JE, Robinson LE, Thomas Clandinin M. Effect of providing a formula supplemented with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on immunity in full-term neonates. Br J Nutr 2008;99:91–9. doi:10.1017/S0007114507791845.
  41. Radzikowska U, Rinaldi AO, Çelebi Sözener Z, et al (2019) The Influence of Dietary Fatty Acids on Immune Responses. Nutrients. 2019 Dec 6;11(12):2990.

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