Probiotics May Reduce Colic, Study Suggests

Sharon Moore October 09, 2013

Colic or the frequent episodes of crying for more than three hours a day of which causes are generally unknown, affects as many as one in five babies. This condition often leads to relationship stress, breastfeeding failure, postpartum depression, recurrent GP visits, and even child abuse. But researchers are currently investigating possible effective and safe treatments for babies having colic.

Researchers at the University of Melbourne analysed 12 published trials to investigate the effectiveness of probiotics given either to breastfed or bottle-fed babies. Some of these studies looked at probiotics as a form of treatment whilst others as prevention for colic.

Three of the five "treatment" trials found that probiotics helped breastfed babies, one trial found a potential effectiveness in formula-fed babies, and one no effect in breastfed babies.

Even though the results were promising, the researchers say more studies are needed to confirm their findings. “There is still insufficient evidence to support the general use of probiotics in all infants with colic or to recommend its use in preventing colic." said Dr Valerie Sun, the lead author of the study.

Colic prevention strategies

According to Janet Fyle of the Royal College of Midwives, not all crying is down to colic. She said the baby may be crying because they are cold or have a dirty nappy.

Although babies grow out of it by about four to six months but until then, colic can be distressing for the entire family. For now, there are proven intervention strategies that parents or caregivers can use to calm babies. These include ensuring they are well positioned at the breast, and that they have finished the milk in the first breast before moving to the second, explained Dr Rosemary Dodds of the National Childbirth Trust. For babies who are bottle-fed, she recommends bring up any air they take in with the milk, ensuring they are in upright position, and gently putting pressure on the stomach or patting their back.

The new study was published in the JAMA Paediatrics journal.

Source of this article:

Probiotics ’soothe some babies with colic’