Page 39 - Petelin, Ana, et al. 2019. Eds. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of Children and Adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 39
The use of probiotics
in the preschool period
Emina Fajković, Mojca Stubelj, Katja Bezek
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
Abstract
Introduction: Gut microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms
that inhabit the host’s intestine and are in a commensal partnership with
it. In the first months of life the gut microbiota composition is influenced
by many factors, such as mode of delivery, method of infant feeding, age
and maternal health status, length of hospitalization and antibiotic use
in the mother or child. The balance of the gut microbiota composition,
which can be regulated by the consumption of probiotics, has a significant
impact on the health of the individual.
Methods: The aim was to research the frequency of probiotics use in
the preschool period. The results were obtained with an anonymous
questionnaire filled by parents of children aged up to 6 years. The
questions were related to knowledge of probiotics and their effects
on health and the frequency and quantity of consumption. Results: A
total of 102 parents participated in the survey. In 86.3% probiotics are
included in child’s diet of which 36.7% through foods, 28.4% through a
combination of foods and supplements and 12.8% through supplements.
Main source of probiotics in child’s diet is cheese (81.4%) and plain
yoghurt (79.4%), consumed 1 to 2 times a week. The most common
amount of cheese is 20 g (46.1%) and 2 dl (43.1%) of yogurt. Discussion
and conclusion: The probiotics are consumed through foods or
supplements already in the preschool period. Moreover, the favourable
impact on children health has also been reported.
Keywords: probiotics, gut microbiota, probiotics in the preschool period
Introduction
The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is colonised by a complex population
of microorganisms, which play an important role in health and disease of the
host. Main beneficial outcomes of so-called gut microbiota are the result of im-
in the preschool period
Emina Fajković, Mojca Stubelj, Katja Bezek
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
Abstract
Introduction: Gut microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms
that inhabit the host’s intestine and are in a commensal partnership with
it. In the first months of life the gut microbiota composition is influenced
by many factors, such as mode of delivery, method of infant feeding, age
and maternal health status, length of hospitalization and antibiotic use
in the mother or child. The balance of the gut microbiota composition,
which can be regulated by the consumption of probiotics, has a significant
impact on the health of the individual.
Methods: The aim was to research the frequency of probiotics use in
the preschool period. The results were obtained with an anonymous
questionnaire filled by parents of children aged up to 6 years. The
questions were related to knowledge of probiotics and their effects
on health and the frequency and quantity of consumption. Results: A
total of 102 parents participated in the survey. In 86.3% probiotics are
included in child’s diet of which 36.7% through foods, 28.4% through a
combination of foods and supplements and 12.8% through supplements.
Main source of probiotics in child’s diet is cheese (81.4%) and plain
yoghurt (79.4%), consumed 1 to 2 times a week. The most common
amount of cheese is 20 g (46.1%) and 2 dl (43.1%) of yogurt. Discussion
and conclusion: The probiotics are consumed through foods or
supplements already in the preschool period. Moreover, the favourable
impact on children health has also been reported.
Keywords: probiotics, gut microbiota, probiotics in the preschool period
Introduction
The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is colonised by a complex population
of microorganisms, which play an important role in health and disease of the
host. Main beneficial outcomes of so-called gut microbiota are the result of im-
