• Tweet
• Sharebar

• Tweet

I was introduced to this new study concerning infant colic and probiotics by Kathy Lilleskov, a lactation consultant.  She suggested it as she thought it was very interesting and could be of possible help for Willow. She did caution me to read the entire article in Pediatrics Magazine (and there wasn’t too much medical jargon) and to talk to my pediatrician before starting any course of probiotics.

* Pediatrics Magazine is the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In summary, Italian researchers found that 90 colicky infants that were
given a daily dose of a probiotic had reduced crying times of 21 per
cent in 7 days,and by 75 per cent in 28 days.

I did contact my pediatrician, who asked me to send the article to her so that she could read it and then advise me.  Then I called my sister-in-law who is a naturopath and midwife. She told me that she prescribes probiotics often as she feels that our diet of processed foods doesn’t provide a healthy gut flora for breastfed infants. 

I haven’t decided whether to try the probiotics or not. I am going to do a little more research and then make up my mind.  I am taking the words of caution from the researchers and also another author, Jennifer Shu, M.D., co-author of the book Heading
Home with Your Newborn (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2005).  Levels of L. reuteri
have been found to be lower in colicky babies than in infants without
colic, according to Shu. Thus
researchers have theorized that the probiotic relieves colic symptoms
by bringing balance to the levels of bacteria and microorganisms found
in the digestive tract. Shu says that L.
reuteri supplements do not appear to be readily available in the United
States at this point, and that their use in infants hasn’t been
thoroughly researched. "The safety of probiotics in young infants has
not been well studied," she says. "Because they affect the digestive
tract, they could possibly cause symptoms such as gas or bloating.

Both Shu and the
Italian researchers say that further study is needed to determine
appropriate doses and investigate other potentially helpful probiotics,
such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, in treatment of colic. Meanwhile,
Shu advises parents with colicky babies to talk with their
pediatricians. "The cause of colic
has not been proven, so digestive issues may not be the issue, or the
only issue," she says. She also recommends the Five S’s – swaddling,
side/stomach position, shushing (white noise), and sucking – suggested
in Harvey Karp’s book Happiest Baby on the Block, as calming
strategies. And keep in mind that this, too, shall pass. "Most babies with colic are better by 3 to 4 months," Shu says, "so parents should feel assured that crying won’t last forever." (From Parenthood.com)

Here is a nice article that summarizes the Pediatrics Magazine article: the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The constant crying of a colicky baby can make even the most calm
parents feel distressed, ineffective and exhausted that nothing they do
seems to help. There is no scientifically defined cause for colic, but
the results of a new study, published in the January issue of Journal
for the American Academy of Pediatrics, found that a daily dose of a
certain probiotic helped to improve colic symptoms significantly.  Infantile colic is defined as a condition in which an otherwise
healthy baby cries frequently and inconsolably for an extended period
for no discernable reason. It is one of the most common problems with
the first 3 months of life, affecting as many as 3% to 28% of newborn
children. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Turin in
Italy, involved 90 colicky infants of similar age, birth weight, gender
and baseline crying times. Between April 2004 and May 2005, they were
randomly given either a daily dose of the probiotic, lactobacillus
reuteri, 30 minutes after feeding or simethicone. Parents were
instructed to note each day, for 28 days, how long their infant cried. After 7 days, the scientists reported that the average crying times
of the probiotic infants was down 21 per cent, from 197 minutes a day
to 159 a day, while the crying times of the simethicone group was only
reduced by 10 per cent, from 197 minutes per day to 177. After 28 days,
the crying times had dropped 75 per cent (51 minutes per day) for the
probiotic group and only 26 per cent (145 minutes per day) for the
simethicone group. Therefore 95% of the lactobacillus reuteri treated babies achieved
the reduction in crying criteria established for the study versus only
7% of the simethicone treated babies. "Our results suggest the potential role of lactobacillus reuteri as
a new therapeutic approach to infantile colic," says lead researcher,
Dr. Francesco Savino (Pediatrician). "The long-time safety profile of
probiotics makes them a favourable alternative to all other therapeutic
options for infants with colic." Lactobacillus reuteri is a specific probiotic that helps build a
healthy balance of microflora in the intestine that hinders harmful
microorganisms from multiplying. "We hope that the positive results from this important study will
encourage physicians and parents of colicky babies to feel confident in
the benefits that BioGaia Drops can provide, as a natural, more
effective alternative to conventional treatment," says Dr. Anne Brusby,
Medical Director, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, which distributes the
medication in Canada.  "Currently, these are the only probiotics available in drop form,
which makes them convenient and easy to administer," Brusby explains.
"The BioGaia (reuteri) drops are delivered in a 5 ml glass bottle,
directly into the baby’s mouth. They can be given to babies of any age
- 5 drops a day – without disturbing breastfeeding. Results are seen in
the first week." BioGaia Probiotic Drops are available in pharmacies across the
country without a prescription. Because BioGaia Drops need to be
refrigerated, they are available behind the pharmacy counter. The cost
is approximately $1 per day. Safety studies into Lactobacillus reuteri have been conducted in
healthy newborns, small children, adults and immuno-deficient adults
over the past decade. In all these studies, Reuteri has proven free
from side effects, even when given in doses widely exceeding the levels
normally contained in Reuteri products. Almost one billion daily doses
of Reuteri have been consumed all over the world since 1996.

Similar Posts: