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 .
Reduction of crying episodes owing to infantile colic: a randomized controlled study on the efficacy of a new infant formula
Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy on crying episodes owing to infantile colic of a new infant formula containing partially hydrolysed whey proteins , prebiotic oligosaccharides ( OS ) , with a high β-palmitic acid content . Design : Prospect i ve r and omized controlled study . Setting : Italy . Subjects : Two hundred and sixty-seven formula-fed infants , aged less than 4 months , with infantile colic , were r and omized to receive either the new infant formula ( study treatment ( ST ) ) or a st and ard formula and simethicone ( 6 mg/kg twice a day ) ( control treatment ( CT ) ) . A question naire was given to parents to evaluate for 14 days the daily number of colic episodes and crying time . Results : Out of the 199 infants who completed the study , 96 were treated with the new formula and 103 were not treated . Infants receiving the new formula had a significant decrease in colic episodes after 1 week ( 2.47±1.94 at day 7 vs 5.99±1.84 at the study entry ) compared to infants receiving the CT ( 3.72±1.98 at day 7 vs 5.41±1.88 at the study entry ) ( P<0.0001 ) . Also at day 14 , the crying episodes were significantly different between the two groups of infants ( 1.76±1.60 in ST vs 3.32±2.06 in CT ) ( P<0.0001 ) . Conclusions : The use of a partially hydrolysed formula supplemented with fructo- and galacto-OS induces a reduction of crying episodes in infants with colic after 7 and 14 days when compared with a st and ard formula and simethicone . Sponsorship : The study was supported by funds from Numico , Italy
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 .