Lactobacillus Reuteri Versus Placebo in the Treatment and Prevention of Infantile Colic

Lactobacillus Reuteri Versus Placebo in the Treatment and Prevention of Infantile Colic: a Clinical and Microbiological, Double-blind, Prospective, Randomised, Controlled Study

The purpose of this study is: to study the intestinal microflora of colicky infants before and after L. reuteri or placebo administration, evaluating the effect of Lactobacillus reuteri on the growth of the main intestinal microbiota (coliforms, Clostridium butyricum, Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria) with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) technique or with Real-Time PCR Taqman; Further, the global intestinal microflora composition, using large-scale DNA sequencing of 16S rRNA genes ( 454-pyrosequencing technique. to evaluate the improvement of colicky symptoms by the oral administration of Lactobacillus reuteri (primary outcome: reduction of the daily average crying time from baseline to the end of the treatment period, to less than 3 hours a day, the cut-off proposed by Wessel; secondary outcome: number of responders versus non-responders in each group at the end of the treatment). to evaluate fecal calprotectin values at the beginning and at the end of the study. BÜHLMANN Quantum Blue® Calprotectin High Range (Schönenbuch, Switzerland). A quantitative immunoassay. to evaluate Th17/Treg balance at time 0 and t 30 ( days) investigating mRNA FOXP3 and RORγ in peripheral blood using RT-PCR Real Time Taqman. the measurement of the expression level of CC-chemokine receptor 7 messenger RNA using the real-time TaqMan reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method. the measurement of expression of interleukin 10 (IL-10) messenger RNA using the real-time TaqMan reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method. Parental satisfaction at the end of the study period ( 30 day ) with a numerc scale from 1 to 10.

Infantile colic is one of the most common problems within the first three months of life. It consists of a behavioural syndrome characterised by paroxysmal, excessive and inconsolable crying without identifiable cause. Although infantile colic is commonly reported and causes appreciable distress for both parents and paediatricians, despite forty years of research, its aetiology still remains unclear. Recently the role of intestinal microflora has growing importance, and a lower count of intestinal lactobacilli has been observed in colicky infants compared to healthy ones. In a recent study we have observed that Lactobacillus reuteri improved colicky symptoms in breast-fed infants within one week of treatment compared to Simethicone, suggesting that probiotics may play a role in infantile colic (Savino F, Pelle E, Palumeri E, Oggero R, Miniero R.Lactobacillus reuteri (American Type Culture Collection Strain 55730) versus simethicone in the treatment of infantile colic: a prospective randomized study. Pediatrics 2007; 119:e124-30). The mechanism involved in such finding is only partially understood and, for this reason, we have planned this new study to evaluate not only the clinical improvement but also the microbiological data.

infantile colic, lactobacillus, gut microflora, FISH, toll like receptor, T reg, messenger RNA, CC-chemokine receptor 7, interleukin 10

Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 is administered at a dose of 1.000.000.000 colony forming units (CFU) in V drops of a commercially available oil suspension, 30 min before feeding, once a day for 30 days.

Placebo is administered in V drops once a day for 30 days. Placebo is inactive, similar to the studied treatment with the same package, taste, characteristics of colour and consistency.

Lactobacillus reuteri is administered at a dose of 1.000.000.000 colony forming units (CFU) in V drops/day for 21 days

Placebo is administered in V drops once a day for 21 days. Placebo is inactive, similar to the studied treatment with the same package, taste, characteristics of colour and consistency.

Reduction of the daily average crying time from baseline to the end of the treatment period, to less than 3 hours a day, the cut-off proposed by Wessel and number of responders versus non-responders in each group at the end of the treatment

was defined as the number of responders in each group on days 7, 14 , 21 and 30 . Responders (defined in the protocol) were those who experienced a decrease in the daily average crying time of 50% from baseline. Diary Crying Barr.

The intestinal microflora of the infants will be analyzed the effect of the probiotic on selected intestinal microbiota (Escherichia coli, Clostridium butyricum, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium), using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) or using with Real-Time PCR Taqman.

action on: use of pain relieving agents, switch to infant formula, number of paediatric consultations for infantile colic

BÜHLMANN Quantum Blue® Calprotectin High Range (Schönenbuch, Switzerland). It is a quantitative determination of fecal calprotectin through a sandwich immunoassay.

Inclusion Criteria: clinical diagnosis of infantile colic according to Wessel's criteria gestational age between 37 and 42 weeks age between 4 and 16 weeks birth weight between 2500 and 4000 g exclusively breastfed Exclusion Criteria: clinical evidence of chronic illness or gastrointestinal disorders administration of probiotics and antibiotics

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