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 .
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
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 .