New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Study examines probiotic use in preventing gastrointestinal disorders in infants

Date:
January 13, 2014
Source:
American Medical Association (AMA)
Summary:
Giving an infant a probiotic during the first three months of life appears to reduce the onset of gastrointestinal disorders and result in lower associated costs, according to a study.
Share:
FULL STORY

Giving an infant a probiotic during the first three months of life appears to reduce the onset of gastrointestinal disorders and result in lower associated costs, according to a study by Flavia Indrio, M.D., of the Aldo Moro University of Bari, Italy, and colleagues.

Infant colic, acid reflux and constipation are the most common gastrointestinal disorders that lead to a pediatrician referral during the first six months of life. They are often responsible for hospitalization, feeding changes, use of drugs, parental anxiety and loss of parental working days, according to the study background.

Researchers randomized 554 newborns in nine pediatric units in Italy to the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (L reuteri DSM 17938) or placebo for 90 days, and asked parents to record in diary entries the number of vomiting episodes and evacuations (emptying of the bowels), the duration of inconsolable crying and the number of pediatrician visits. Change in daily crying time, vomiting, constipation and the cost benefits of probiotic supplement use was measured during the three month period.

At three months of age, the average duration of crying time (38 vs. 71 minutes), regurgitations (2.9 vs. 4.6) and evacuations per day (4.2 vs. 3.6) differed in the probiotic and placebo groups, respectively. Probiotic use also was associated with a nearly $119 average savings per patient in each family.

"Driving a change of colonization during the first weeks of life through giving lactobacilli may promote an improvement in intestinal permeability; visceral sensitivity and mast cell density and probiotic administration may represent a new strategy for preventing these conditions, at least in predisposed children," the authors conclude.


Story Source:

Materials provided by American Medical Association (AMA). Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Flavia Indrio, Antonio Di Mauro, Giuseppe Riezzo, Elisa Civardi, Cristina Intini, Luigi Corvaglia, Elisa Ballardini, Massimo Bisceglia, Mauro Cinquetti, Emanuela Brazzoduro, Antonio Del Vecchio, Silvio Tafuri, Ruggiero Francavilla. Prophylactic Use of a Probiotic in the Prevention of Colic, Regurgitation, and Functional Constipation. JAMA Pediatrics, 2014; DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.4367

Cite This Page:

American Medical Association (AMA). "Study examines probiotic use in preventing gastrointestinal disorders in infants." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 January 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140113163654.htm>.
American Medical Association (AMA). (2014, January 13). Study examines probiotic use in preventing gastrointestinal disorders in infants. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 29, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140113163654.htm
American Medical Association (AMA). "Study examines probiotic use in preventing gastrointestinal disorders in infants." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140113163654.htm (accessed March 29, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES