Title: Reduction of crying episodes owing to infantile colic: A randomized controlled study on the efficacy of a new infant formula.
| Authors: | Savino F, Palumeri E, Castagno E, Cresi F, Dalmasso P, Cavallo F, Oggero R |
| Published: | 2006 |
| Journal: | European Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of crying episodes owing to infantile colic with a new infant formula containing partially hydrolysed whey proteins, prebiotic oligosaccharides (OS), with a high beta-palmitic acid content.
In this prospective, randomised controlled study, 267 formula-fed infants, aged less than 4 months, with infantile colic, were randomised to receive either the new infant formula (study treatment (ST)) or a standard formula and simethicone (6 mg/kg twice a day) (control treatment (CT)).
Out of the 199 infants who completed the study, 96 were treated with the new formula and 103 were not treated.
Infants receiving the new formula had a significant decrease in colic episodes after 1 week compared to infants receiving the CT. Also at day 14, the crying episodes were significantly different between the two groups of infants.
In conclusion, the study supports the hypothesis that infants fed with a partially hydrolysed formula, added with a mixture comprising 90% GOS and 10% FOS, have a significant improvement in common, but often unsolved, symptoms of the lower gastrointestinal tract, such as colic episodes. It is probable that all the above-mentioned factors (quality of proteins, quantity of prebiotic and structure of lipids) may contribute to the positive effects of the formula tested.