Effectiveness of probiotics for the treatment of infantile colic

Background Infantile colic is one of the most common health issues that can occur during an infant's first months of life, affecting approximately 20% of all infants. The aetiology of infantile colic is not well understood; however, studies have suggested that changes in the intestinal microbiota can lead to symptoms of infantile colic. For this reason, different strains of probiotics have been studied to help understand their effectiveness in the treatment of infantile colic. Objective The aim of this evidence-based review is to summarise the evidence of the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment of infantile colic. Discussion Several strains of probiotics have been studied, with some presenting positive results for reducing the symptoms of infantile colic in groups with specific characteristics. However, more studies are required to evaluate efficacy and effectiveness of probiotics in different degrees of severity and in larger and more heterogenous samples.