Prevention of Infantile Colic Using Probiotics

Abstract

Objective: Infantile colic is a frustrating impasse that affects up to 20% of infants. Even though its pathogenesis is currently unknown, some hypotheses are food hypersensitivity or allergy, gut dysmotility, inflammation, and visceral pain. The use of probiotics in treatment and prevention of infantile colic is a relatively new topic. Method: Literature searches were conducted using Ovid MEDLINE®, EMBASE®, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Randomised controlled trials including the terms “neonate(s)”, “infant(s)”, “probiotics”, “synbiotics”, “Lactobacillus”, “Bifidobacterium”, “colic”, and “prevention” were included. Results: Three studies showed the different composition of intestinal microbiota between colicky infants and control groups. In six of the studies, probiotic and/or synbiotic supplementation significantly decreased the rate of crying and pain in colicky infants compared with placebo; however, in two studies, no effect on the incidence and frequency of colic-related restlessness was detected. In all, the reviewed studies demonstrated that probiotic and/or symbiotic treatment regimens were effective for infantile colic prevention. Conclusions: There is much evidence suggestive of diversity in the intestinal microbiota among colicky and healthy infants. Based on recent research, using probiotics and synbiotics is a practical and favourable strategy for prevention and treatment of fussiness in colicky infants.