A specific probiotic decreases crying in colicky infants younger than 2 months

Référence

Nocerino R, De Filippis F, Cecere G, et al. The therapeutic efficacy of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis BB‐12® in infant colic: A randomised, double blind, placebo‐controlled trial. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2020;51(1):110-120.

Sommaire

These researchers worked with community pediatricians to identify breastfed infants younger than 8 weeks with reported colic for at least 1 week, consisting of crying or irritability without obvious cause for at least 3 hours a day for at least 3 days per week. Identified infants were followed up for 1 week before the intervention started to confirm the diagnosis. Then, 80 infants were randomized, using concealed allocation, to receive placebo or supplementation with the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (Bifidolactis Infant) each morning, by mouth, for 28 days. Parents kept a diary and patients were evaluated weekly by a pediatrician. Follow-up was 100% in both groups and analysis was by intention to treat. The primary outcome, a reduction of 50% or more of average daily crying duration after 28 days of intervention, occurred in 80% of the treated infants as compared with 33% of the untreated children (P < .0001) and began with the first week of treatment. In addition, the average minutes of crying per day, the number of crying episodes, and the number of daily stools was lower with treatment.