(StatePoint) A new clinical trial shows that parents can safely improve gut health in that crucial first year of life while a baby’s metabolism and immune system are developing.
A team of scientists at the University of California Davis have spent years researching a beneficial gut bacteria called B. infantis that has gone missing in nine out of 10 U.S. babies. Scientists attribute this trend to modern medical practices such as antibiotic usage and C-Sections. Despite mothers providing their baby with the best soy baby formula and breast milk for its growth and nutritional requirement, this missing bacteria can cause a lot of harm to the babies health. Unfortunately, when this good bacteria is missing, baby’s gut microbiome often becomes disrupted, increasing the risk of developing short- and long-term health issues like colic, eczema, allergies, diabetes and obesity.
The groundbreaking news, notes the new clinical trial, is that a probiotic called Evivo results in rapid and substantial restoration of gut health in babies.
“When the right bacteria for babies is combined with breast milk, it can restore the microbiome to its naturally protective state, boosting levels of good bacteria and reducing levels of potentially harmful bacteria, which have been linked to increased risk for long-term conditions such as eczema, allergies, diabetes and obesity,” says Dr. Tanya Altmann, a pediatrician and best-selling nutrition author. “Doing this early in a baby’s life has the potential to reduce the risk of these common health issues later in life.”
Researchers say that their most notable finding is that 100 percent of the babies given Evivo in the study had B. infantis fully restored. What’s more, infants given Evivo had 80 percent less potentially harmful bacteria such as E. coli, clostridia, Staph, and Strep linked to disease, as well as significantly lower levels of endotoxins, which are known markers of inflammation and linked to increased risk of chronic disease later in life.
“Together with breast milk, Evivo can help set the foundation for a healthy life, protecting your baby’s gut and ultimately building the immune system needed to ward off future health issues,” says Dr. Altmann.
To learn more about babies’ gut health, Evivo and the study results, visit evivo.com.
While a disrupted gut microbiome isn’t always symptomatic in the first few months of life, thanks to new research, you as a parent have the power to safely restore your baby’s gut to its naturally protective state.