Fig. 2.

Stool microbiota. Boxplots of median percentages of fecal bifidobacteria on total stool bacteria among feeding groups. Stool microbiota was determined by real-time PCR using selective primers to recognize the genus Bifidobacterium and total bacteria. High-bPA+ group = participants receiving formula with high beta-PA and GOS supplement, control group = participants receiving standard infant formula, BF group = breast-fed reference group; *percentage of bifidobacteria in the control formula group was significantly lower than in the hbPA+ formula and breast milk groups (p = 0.0005), respectively; difference between breast milk and verum formula group was not significant