Table 6 Intestinal microbiota counts in faecal samples of infants (as log10 of cfu/g), at 4, 6, 9 and 12 months of age. Values are Mean + Standard Error of the Mean (SEM)

Lactobacillus spp.

6.83 ± 0.1

7.12 ± 0.2

7.14 ± 0.1

6.58 ± 0.1

8.73 ± 0.1

8.39 ± 0.1

7.75 ± 0.1

7.21 ± 0.1

0.000

7.48 ± 0.1

7.29 ± 0.1

7.07 ± 0.1

6.45 ± 0.1

0.024

Bifidobacterium spp.

9.88 ± 0.1

9.91 ± 0.1

9.91 ± 0.1

9.93 ± 0.1

9.53 ± 0.1

9.77 ± 0.1

9.89 ± 0.1

9.78 ± 0.1

0.903

9.73 ± 0.1

9.91 ± 0.1

9.94 ± 0.1

9.67 ± 0.1

0.085

Clostridium spp.

5.38 ± 0.1

6.14 ± 0.1

6.64 ± 0.1

6.63 ± 0.1

5.64 ± 0.1

6.25 ± 0.1

6.72 ± 0.1

6.66 ± 0.1

0.632

5.71 ± 0.1

6.45 ± 0.1

6.59 ± 0.1

6.54 ± 0.1

0.026

Bacteroides spp.

6.59 ± 0.2

7.08 ± 0.1

7.68 ± 0.2

7.83 ± 0.2

6.44 ± 0.2

7.33 ± 0.2

8.03 ± 0.2

8.22 ± 0.2

0.044

6.04 ± 0.2

7.12 ± 0.2

7.39 ± 0.2

7.93 ± 0.2

0.777

E.coli

10.31 ± 0.2

9.97 ± 0.1

9.73 ± 0.1

9.51 ± 0.1

10.20 ± 0.1

10.07 ± 0.1

9.46 ± 0.1

9.16 ± 0.1

0.089

10.41 ± 0.1

9.96 ± 0.1

9.78 ± 0.1

9.47 ± 0.1

0.806