Probiotics for Reflux, Colic and More: Research on the Rise

Jamie Lee Curtis may have persuaded you to hop on the probiotic train years ago when she was plugging for yogurt. But are probiotics a possible solution for infants with symptoms of colic, reflux, etc.?

News came out of Canada recently; a study from The Hospital for Sick Children. According to the Oct. 23, 2014 article: 

New research led by the Motherisk Program at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) shows for the first time that probiotics can significantly reduce colic in North American infants. The study assessed the effectiveness of Lactobacillius reuteri DSM 17938 in treating infantile colic in exclusively breastfed Canadian babies. The paper is published in the Oct. 23 advance online edition of The Journal of Pediatrics.

The article describes probiotics as supplements, which introduce live microorganisms into the gut, to help regulate intestinal bacteria patterns and suppress inflammation.

Earlier this year, WebMD published news from an Italian study, Probiotic Drops Might Ease Colic. It states that according to Italian researchers, infants given probiotics during the first three months of life appear to have fewer bouts of colic, acid reflux and constipation. However, more research is needed before doctors can "embrace the results."

In any case, it's a topic worth following as the debate continues to flare between the "over-diagnosis" of colic and reflux, and the decision to medicate, or wait it out as a natural part of development.