Functional gastrointestinal disorders in infants: is it possible to treat them with infant formulas?

The etiology, pathogenesis, and characteristics of neonatal colic are being actively explored by clinicians and researchers. The impact of nutrition on colic in newborns is still not fully understood and requires further investigations. This article discusses the role of functional nutrients of infant formulas (including prebiotics and probiotics) in the prevention and correction of colic in newborns and their impact on the formation of the intestinal microbiota. It also focuses on the effect of prebiotics in the diet on the intestinal microbiome composition, severity of colic in newborns, and association between the presence of probiotic cultures in the diet and development of colic. We emphasize the importance of studying microbiome composition and metabolites produced by intestinal commensals, including short-chain fatty acids. We also describe possible prebiotic and probiotic effects of infant formula containing goat milk. Key words: infantile colic, infant formula, prebiotics, prebiotics, oligosaccharides 2'-FL, GOS, Bifidobacterium lactis, gut microbiota, goat milk