AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS There is no clear evidence that probiotics are more effective than placebo at preventing infantile colic ; however , daily crying time appeared to reduce with probiotic use compared to placebo .
There were no clear differences in adverse effects .
BACKGROUND Infantile colic is typically defined as full-force crying for at least three hours per day , on at least three days per week , for at least three weeks .
Infantile colic affects a large number of infants and their families worldwide .
Its symptoms are broad and general , and while not indicative of disease , may represent a serious underlying condition in a small percentage of infants who may need a medical assessment .
Probiotics are live microorganisms that alter the microflora of the host and provide beneficial health effects .
The most common probiotics used are of Lactobacillus , Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus .
There is growing evidence to suggest that intestinal flora in colicky infants differ from those in healthy infants , and it is suggested that probiotics can redress this balance and provide a healthier intestinal microbiota l and scape .
The low cost and easy availability of probiotics makes them a potential prophylactic solution to reduce the incidence and prevalence of infantile colic .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylactic probiotics in preventing or reducing severity of infantile colic .
Preventive effects of oral probiotic on infantile colic: a prospective, randomised, blinded, controlled trial using Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938.
Infants were recruited in four centres in North-West Italy . 138 infants were assessed for eligibility , 113 ones underwent r and omisation and 105 completed the study . Newborns aged less than 10 days of life , with gestational age between 37 and 42 weeks , birth weight from 2,500 to 4,300 g and normal physical examination were recruitable . Premature infants and infants affected by outcomes of perinatal hypoxia or necrotising enterocolitis have been excluded . Patients were r and omly assigned to receive five drops containing Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 ( 108 cfu ) with 400 UI of vitamin D3 or only 400 UI of vitamin D3 daily . The primary endpoints concern the administration of pain relieving agents ( cimetropium bromide at least three times per week or simethicone at least five times per week ) from baseline to 12 weeks . Additional analyses were done on the percentage of infants that switched from an exclusive breastfeeding to a partial or exclusive formula feeding from baseline to 12 weeks . Data concerning the number of calls to the paediatricians and the number of visits at paediatricians ' ambulatories due to infantile colic have been collected by paediatrician and analysed . Comparing the two groups , the relative risk was 0.04 ( 95 % confidence interval (CI)=0.01 - 0.31 ) for cimetropium bromide , 0.24 ( 95 % CI=0.14 - 0.41 ) for simethicone and 0.37 ( 95 % CI=0.17 - 0.80 ) for the administration of infant formula , showing a protective action of L. reuteri . The treatment group showed a lower number of paediatric consultations related to episodes of infant colic than the control group ( P<0.0001 ) . L. reuteri DSM 17938 supplementation at the tested dosage could reduce parental discomfort due to infantile colic . The consumption of this probiotic is associated with a reduction of paediatric consultations for infantile colic , as well as use of pain relieving agents and of infant formula
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS There is no clear evidence that probiotics are more effective than placebo at preventing infantile colic ; however , daily crying time appeared to reduce with probiotic use compared to placebo .
There were no clear differences in adverse effects .
BACKGROUND Infantile colic is typically defined as full-force crying for at least three hours per day , on at least three days per week , for at least three weeks .
Infantile colic affects a large number of infants and their families worldwide .
Its symptoms are broad and general , and while not indicative of disease , may represent a serious underlying condition in a small percentage of infants who may need a medical assessment .
Probiotics are live microorganisms that alter the microflora of the host and provide beneficial health effects .
The most common probiotics used are of Lactobacillus , Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus .
There is growing evidence to suggest that intestinal flora in colicky infants differ from those in healthy infants , and it is suggested that probiotics can redress this balance and provide a healthier intestinal microbiota l and scape .
The low cost and easy availability of probiotics makes them a potential prophylactic solution to reduce the incidence and prevalence of infantile colic .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylactic probiotics in preventing or reducing severity of infantile colic .