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 .
Safety and acceptability of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis 35624 in Bangladeshi infants: a phase I randomized clinical trial
Background Probiotics have rarely been studied in young healthy infants from low-income countries . This phase I study investigated the safety and acceptability of two probiotics in Bangladesh . Methods Healthy infants aged four to twelve weeks from urban slums in Bangladesh were r and omized to one of three different intervention dosing arms  ( daily , weekly , biweekly – once every two weeks ) of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis 35624 over one month or to a fourth arm that received no probiotics . All subjects were followed for two additional months . Reported gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms as well as breastfeeding rates , hospitalizations , differential withdrawals , and caretakers ’ perception of probiotic use were compared among arms . Results In total , 160 infants were r and omized ( 40 to each arm ) with 137 ( Daily n = 35 , Weekly n = 35 , Biweekly n = 35 , Control n = 32 ) followed up for a median of twelve weeks ; 113 completed the study . Illness and breastfeeding rates were similar across all arms . Ten hospitalizations unrelated to probiotic use occurred . Forty eight percent of the caretakers of infants in intervention arms believed that probiotics improved their baby ’s health . Conclusions These two commonly used probiotics appeared safe and well-accepted by Bangladeshi families . Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov NCT01899378 . Registered July 10 , 2013
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 .