Probiotics Curb Crying in Babies

Colicky babies cried less after taking probiotics

Livermore, October 2010: Researchers who presented their findings at a recent gathering of pediatricians said that they wanted to see of they could reduce crying time in infants with colic by improving the balance of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract.

Doctors gave 50 infants with colic 100 million Lactobacillus reuteri supplement per day, or a placebo, for three weeks.

After seven days, infants in the placebo group spent 50 percent less time crying per day compared to 68 percent less time for the probiotics group. After three weeks, the average crying time in the placebo group was 90 minutes per day compared to 35 minutes per day for those who took probiotics.

Also after three weeks, 43 percent of children in the placebo group no longer had colic compared to 84 percent of the children who had taken probiotics.

Reference: 43rd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, 9-12 June, 2010; Istanbul, Turkey

Republished from the Van’s Health Foods November 2010 newsletter

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