An infant's gut health is influenced by many factors during early life, including delivery method, nutrition, living environment, maternal microbiota, and medication use such as antibiotics. According to an article published in Nature Reviews Immunology, diet, environment, and medical interventions can affect the establishment of the microbiota, thereby impacting immune development in young children. When the microbiota is imbalanced and beneficial bacteria decline, immune development in the early years can also be affected.
Children born via C-section are a group that requires more attention regarding gut microbiota. In Vietnam, according to the Survey of Children and Women Indicators (SDGCW) 2020-2021 conducted by the General Statistics Office and UNICEF, C-sections accounted for 34,4% of all births nationwide. Because they do not pass through the natural birth canal, C-section babies may miss part of the initial exposure to the mother's microbiota, leading to lower levels of beneficial gut bacteria and a potential for prolonged microbiota imbalance for many years. This information highlights the importance of appropriate care and nutritional solutions to help C-section babies establish a balanced gut microbiota from early life.
In recent years, scientists have increasingly focused on synbiotic as a nutritional solution to support gut microbiota. Synbiotic is a synergistic combination of prebiotics and probiotics. Specifically, the prebiotic scGOS/lcFOS (9:1 ratio) is a fiber mixture that nourishes beneficial gut bacteria. This component has been evaluated in many international clinical studies. Combined with the prebiotic is the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve M-16V – a strain of beneficial bacteria belonging to the Bifidobacteria group, commonly present in the microbiota of healthy infants.
Thanks to this combination, synbiotic promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria, especially the Bifidobacteria group, thereby supporting gut microbiota balance and strengthening the body's natural protective barrier. This is also one of the nutrient systems widely studied in infants, with extensive clinical evidence of benefits for gut health and immunity.
Building on a foundation of global scientific research, the Aptamil brand applies a specialized synbiotic formula – combining probiotic B. breve M-16V and prebiotics scGOS/lcFOS at a 9:1 ratio. The formula was developed in Europe and is supported by clinical evidence in C-section infants in Asia, including the Julius one study, which recorded Bifidobacteria recovery in just three days, 27 times faster than formulas without synbiotic; the Julius two study, which showed the ability to support comprehensive gut microbiota recovery, moving closer to the gut ecosystem of naturally born infants within four weeks; and the Dragon study, which recorded sustained effectiveness after intervention, with the recovery of the Bacteroides group of bacteria up to 12 months later.
The 2026 National Scientific Conference, themed "New trends in synbiotic and early life nutrition supporting immunity, brain, and holistic development in young children", organized by Danone Group in collaboration with the Vietnam Pediatric Association on 7/6 in TP HCM, provided extensive information reinforcing the role of specialized synbiotic in nutritional strategies supporting early digestive health and immune foundation for C-section babies.
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Associate Professor Amber Chiou, Deputy Director of the Future Food Institute at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Photo: Danone |
Associate Professor Amber Chiou, Deputy Director of the Future Food Institute at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, stated that C-section babies often have lower levels of Bifidobacteria compared to naturally born infants. Supplementing with a specialized synbiotic formula can help establish a more favorable gut microbiota, promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, and contribute to regulating immune responses.
Currently, this specialized synbiotic formula is applied in Aptamil's key products to provide nutritional solutions that support gut microbiota, digestive health, and the immune foundation in the early years of life. With over 100 years of global leadership in nutrition, Danone continues to invest in scientific research to develop nutritional solutions that meet children's needs.
Yen Chi
