You may be able to help treat your baby’s colic by giving him or her a daily probiotic supplement, according to new research from Italy. Researchers found that breast-fed babies who were given five drops per day of a probiotic containing the “good bacteria” Lactobacillus reuteri (or L. reuteri) showed significant improvement in colicky symptoms within just one week.
Overall, 95% of the infants treated with the probiotic showed some improvement in their colic — with no side-effects — while only 7% of infants treated with simethicone (the main ingredient in the OTC drug Mylanta) showed improvement. It’s important to note that, during the 28-day study, the babies’ mothers avoided consuming any dairy products.
Some experts believe that increasing the levels of good bacteria in a baby’s gut through the use of probiotic supplementation may have an anti-inflammatory effect and may help decrease levels of painful gas in the intestines (believed to be one cause of colic).
According to researcher Dr. Francesco Savino:
“The safety profile of probiotics makes them a favorable alternative to all other therapeutic options for breastfed infants with colic… It’s possible that L. reuteri promotes an anti-inflammatory tone in the intestines.”
Learn more:
Probiotic may help with colic in babies
Using a probiotic to treat colic in infants
Formula-fed babies’ stomachs likely to contain harmful bacteria
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