'Prebiotic' Reduces Risk of Eczema in Infants
(HealthDay News, 7/27/06)

International researchers from Germany, Italy and Holland gave a formula, which contained a natural prebiotic from human breast milk, to 102 babies who each had at least one parent with a history of eczema, hay fever or asthma. The investigators gave 104 babies standard formula. During six months, 10 babies in the prebiotic group developed eczema; compared to 24 who consumed standard formula. These findings suggest that boosting the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria with a prebiotic may decrease the likelihood of infants developing eczema. And since babies with eczema tend to eventually develop hay fever and asthma, the prebiotic may block these conditions as well.

 (Archives of Disease in Childhood, online issue, July 26, 2006)