In breastfed infants , evidence suggests that a hypoallergenic maternal diet may be beneficial for reducing symptoms of colic .
In formula-fed infants , colic may improve after changing from a st and ard cow ’s milk formula to either a hydrolysed protein formula or a soy-based formula .
Fibre-supplemented formulae had no effect .
Infantile colic , the cause of 10–20 % of all early paediatrician visits , can lead to parental exhaustion and stress .
A systematic review was conducted to examine whether dietary change provides an effective therapy for  infantile colic .
Effect of a Low-Allergen Maternal Diet on Colic Among Breastfed Infants: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
Background . There is controversy regarding whether hypersensitivity to food proteins contributes to colic among breastfed infants . Methods . A r and omized , controlled trial of a low-allergen maternal diet was conducted among exclusively breastfed infants presenting with colic . In the active arm , mothers excluded cow 's milk , eggs , peanuts , tree nuts , wheat , soy , and fish from their diet ; mothers in the control group continued to consume these foods . Outcomes were assessed after 7 days , as the change in cry/fuss duration over 48 hours , with vali date d charts . The primary end point was a reduction in cry/fuss duration of ≥25 % from baseline . Mothers also assessed the responses to diet with categorical and visual analog scales . Results . Of 107 infants , 90 completed the trial ( mean age : 5.7 weeks ; range : 2.9–8.6 weeks ; 54 male infants ) . Infants in both groups presented with significant distress ( geometric mean : low-allergen group : 690 minutes per 48 hours ; control group : 631 minutes per 48 hours ) . In follow-up assessment s on days 8 and 9 , there were significantly more responders in the low-allergen group ( 74 % vs 37 % ) , ie , an absolute risk reduction of 37 % ( 95 % confidence interval : 18–56 % ) . Cry/fuss duration per 48 hours was reduced by a substantially greater amount in the low-allergen group ; the adjusted geometric mean ratio was 0.79 ( 95 % confidence interval : 0.63–0.97 ) , ie , an average reduction of 21 % ( 95 % confidence interval : 3–37 % ) . Mothers ' subjective assessment s of the responses to diet indicated little difference between the groups . Conclusion . Exclusion of allergenic foods from the maternal diet was associated with a reduction in distressed behavior among breastfed infants with colic presenting in the first 6 weeks of life
In breastfed infants , evidence suggests that a hypoallergenic maternal diet may be beneficial for reducing symptoms of colic .
In formula-fed infants , colic may improve after changing from a st and ard cow ’s milk formula to either a hydrolysed protein formula or a soy-based formula .
Fibre-supplemented formulae had no effect .
Infantile colic , the cause of 10–20 % of all early paediatrician visits , can lead to parental exhaustion and stress .
A systematic review was conducted to examine whether dietary change provides an effective therapy for  infantile colic .