A Basturk

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in the treatment of infantile colic in infants fed with breast milk or formula. Methods: The study sample consisted of 38 infants aged from 1 to 4 months. The infants were randomly divided into two groups. The first group (20 infants) was given 10⁸ colony-forming units of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 once daily for 28 days regardless of the diet (breast milk or baby formula), while the second group (18 infants) was given placebo, again once daily. The mothers or caregivers of the infants were given charts to indicate the infants' daily crying episodes, restlessness times. Findings: At the end of the 28-day treatment, mean total crying episode times were 945±420 minutes in the probiotics group and 1205±450 minutes in the placebo group, with statistically significant difference (p=0.041). Similarly, after treatment, mean total restlessness times were 1005±390 minutes in the probiotics group and 1155±345 minutes in the placebo group, with statistically significant difference (p=0.037). In addition, after treatment, daily crying episodes and restlessness times were reduced down to 23 and 25 minutes in the probiotics group, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.017 and p=0.026, respectively). In the placebo group, daily crying episodes and restlessness times were reduced down to 42 and 41 minutes after treatment, respectively, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.319 and p=0.273, respectively). Conclusion: The use of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in infants with infantile colic significantly reduces crying episodes and restlessness.