Will Probiotics Help Prevent Colic? Mixed Results

A new study suggests that it's a little too soon to recommend "good" bacteria, also known as probiotics, to help calm fussy babies. 

"There is some promise in probiotics, but we need further research to clarify it," Dr. Valerie Sung said, via Reuters Health, who led the study at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. "So unfortunately parents shouldn't just jump and get probiotics for their crying babies."

The study notes that as many as one in five babies younger than three months are affected by colic.

Colic is typically defined in infants that cry more than three hours a day over the span of three days a week for more than three weeks in an otherwise well-fed, healthy baby. Statistics show that this can increase the risk of mental health problems and allergies if it persists. And though it is a relatively common condition, there are no medical treatments for checking babies.

After looking at the review of 12 studies, researchers found conflicting evidence regarding the usefulness of probiotics.

For the study, Dr. Sung and her team looked at data from 1,825 infants that were randomly assigned to receive probiotics, placebos or no treatment. This type of study, known as a meta-analysis, reveals common patterns across several studies. However, in this case, no common patterns emerged-only conflicting ones.

Five trials in particular examined the effectiveness of probiotics for treating colic and seven looked at preventing colic.

Results showed that six trails suggested that probiotics reduced crying and six found that they did not. However, five studies that focused on managing colic showed that three said probiotics treated colic in breast-fed babies, one trial suggested probiotics might be effective in formula-fed babies with colic and one found that probiotics were ineffective in breast-fed babies with colic. Out of the seven studies, only two suggested possible benefits of probiotics for colic.

What do you think?

More information regarding the study can be found via JAMA Pediatrics.