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Infant Formulas Containing Probiotic Agents May Reduce Colic
Symptoms
Probiotic agents are live bacteria found in fermented dairy products such as
yogurt, and they're known for their ability to prevent and treat diarrhea,
especially in children and infants taking antibiotics. Researchers from Johns
Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, studied the
responses of infants to consumption of formulas supplemented with
probiotics.
One hundred eighteen children between 3 and 24 months of age who attended
daycare centers in Baltimore were randomly assigned to receive one of three
formulas: A formula supplemented with the probiotic bacteria
Bifidobacterium lactis (B. lactis) and Streptococcus
thermophilus (S. thermophilus); a formula with a lower concentration
of those two bacteria; or a standard formula without probiotic supplementation.
Parents completed weekly written questionnaires and weekly phone interviews
about their child's health, the occurrence of any illnesses, use of medications, gastrointestinal symptoms, and the amount of formula
the child consumed.
The children in the study consumed formula for an average 210 days. No
problems were reported with the supplemented formulas, and parents of children
consuming the supplemented formulas reported colic or irritability
less often than parents of children consuming the standard formula. In addition,
children in the probiotic-supplemented formula group were prescribed antibiotics
less frequently than the children consuming the standard formula.
What This Means to You:
According to the results of this study, infant
formulas supplemented with probiotics appear to be safe for long-term
consumption and may reduce colic symptoms, and irritability. This study is one
of the first to study long-term consumption of probiotics in infants, so don't
look for formulas supplemented with probiotics at your local grocery store any
time soon. Talk to your infant's doctor if you have any questions about the
safety and effectiveness of your child's formula.
Source: Jose M. Saavedra; Adel Abi-Hanna; Nancy Moore; Robert H. Yolken;
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, February 2004
Reviewed by: Steven
Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: February 2004