Journal article

Treating infant colic with the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri: Double blind, placebo controlled randomised trial

V Sung, H Hiscock, MLK Tang, FK Mensah, ML Nation, C Satzke, RG Heine, A Stock, RG Barr, M Wake

BMJ Online | BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP | Published : 2014

Open access

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 reduces crying or fussing in a broad community based sample of breastfed infants and formula fed infants with colic aged less than 3 months. Design: Double blind, placebo controlled randomised trial. Setting: Community based sample (primary and secondary level care centres) in Melbourne, Australia. Participants: 167 breastfed infants or formula fed infants aged less than 3 months meeting Wessel's criteria for crying or fussing: 85 were randomised to receive probiotic and 82 to receive placebo. Interventions: Oral daily L reuteri (1×108 colony forming units) versus placebo for one month. Main outcomes measures: The ..

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Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council


Funding Acknowledgements

This trial was supported by the Georgina Menzies Maconachie Charitable Trust administered by Equity Trustees. BioGaia Sweden supplied the investigational product and placebo at no cost. Calpro AS supplied CalproLab ELISA kits for the analysis of calprotectin levels at no cost. BioGaia, Calpro AS, and Equitee Trustees were independent of the trial and its researchers and played no role in the trial design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication.