Probiotic Eases Infant Colic

TURIN, ItalyBreastfed infants with colicky symptoms who were orally administered Lactobacillus reuteri showed improved symptoms faster than those taking simethicone. The 90 infants included in the trial, performed at the University of Turin, Italy, were given the probiotic L. reuteri or simethicone for 28 days. Parents recorded daily crying times and any adverse effects. For the 83 infants completing the trial (all of similar gestational age, birth weight and gender), daily median crying times in the probiotic and simethicone groups were 159 minutes/d and 177 minutes/d, respectively, on the seventh day, and 51 minutes/d and 145 minutes/d on the 28th day.

There were no adverse side effects. Researchers noted L. reuteri improved symptoms in breastfed infants within 1 week of treatment, compared to simethicone, providing support for the probiotic as treatment for infantile colic. The study was published in Pediatrics (DOI:10.1542/peds.2006-1222).