Role of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 on Crying Time Reduction in Infantile Colic and Its Impact on Maternal Depression: A Real-Life Clinic-Based Study

Abstract

Background: Infantile colic is characterized by prolonged periods of inconsolable, incessant crying and persistent fussing in an otherwise healthy infant. It is a self-limiting condition, but causes significant stress to mothers. AIM: To observe the role of Lactobacillus reuteriDSM 17938 in reducing crying time in colicky infants in routine clinical practice. Methods: This was a prospective observational multicentric clinic-based study. Each practitioner included approximately 30 infants < 5 months of age with infantile colic who were prescribed L. reuteri DSM 17938 for a period of 21 days. There were four physical consultations and two telephonic consultations. The parents were given a daily diary to record the duration of crying and fussing episodes and a questionnaire was administered during the consultations. Results: A total of 120 infants with a mean age of 56.9 ± 34.2 days were included in this 28-day study. The mean crying time as reported by the parents in the subject diary reduced from 248.2 ± 101.2 min, 95% CI: 229.45, 266.94 at baseline to 45.6 ± 79.1 min 95% CI: 31.02, 60.31 at study end (P < 0.01). The clinical response (defined as reduction of 50% in crying time) was observed in 85% of subjects at study end. The fussiness and parental perception of colic recorded during the consultations were reduced by 66% and 72%, respectively, at study end. The maternal depression scores were reduced to 63% at study end. Conclusion: L. reuteri DSM 17938 was associated with a significant reduction in crying time in colicky infants, and showed improvement in maternal depression.

Probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 Changes Foxp3 Deficiency-Induced Dyslipidemia and Chronic Hepatitis in Mice

“…The dosage and chosen administration method were based on documented evidence of the probiotic strain’s efficacy. For infantile colic, beneficial effects were observed with oral administration of ~5 × 10 8 CFU (5 drops) in sunflower oil to the babies [ 22 , 40 , 41 ]. In neonatal experimental NEC in rodents, a daily intragastric administration of 10 6 cfu/g.…”

“…DSM 17938, derived from ATCC 55730, was isolated from a Peruvian mother’s breast milk by removing two plasmids harboring antibiotic-resistance genes [ 19 ]. This modified strain has been shown to be clinically beneficial in newborn conditions such as infantile colic [ 20 , 21 , 22 ] and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) [ 23 ]. In rodents with experimental NEC, immune deficiency, and healthy newborns, this strain has been observed to reset gut microbial dysbiosis, generate beneficial metabolites, and regulate immune responses [ 18 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”