PROBIOTICS AND THEIR IMPACT ON INFANT IMMUNITY (Literary review)

Abstract

The primary objective of early nutrition is to ensure healthy growth and development in neonates and infants during the first months of life when breastfeeding is not feasible. Beyond basic nutritional properties, efforts are directed toward replicating the unique capacity of breast milk to strengthen immunity. Numerous studies demonstrate that an infant's diet directly influences gut microbiota establishment, thereby stimulating immune system maturation and reducing the risk of allergic diseases. The current challenge for the industry is to develop products that shape immunity and microbiota at a level comparable to that observed in vaginally delivered breastfed infants. The beneficial bacteria most frequently added for this purpose include Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri, and several species of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Clinical trials also confirm the benefits of prebiotics, specifically oligosaccharides. This review summarizes the positive impact of probiotics on microbiota establishment, host immune defenses, and the prevention of allergic disorders in infants.