Brief Article
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 28, 2011; 17(16): 2104-2108
Published online Apr 28, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i16.2104
Dietary treatment of colic caused by excess gas in infants: Biochemical evidence
Dámaso Infante, Oscar Segarra, Bernard Le Luyer
Dámaso Infante, Oscar Segarra, Unit of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Children’s Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Autonomous University, Barcelona 08035, Spain
Bernard Le Luyer, Medical Director UP International I.C.C Route de Pré-Bois, CH-1215, Geneva, Switzerland
Author contributions: Infante D designed, performed the research, analyzed the data and wrote the paper; Segarra O performed the research; Luyer BL revised the data and wrote the paper.
Supported by United Pharmaceuticals SAS, 55 Avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris, France
Correspondence to: Dámaso Infante, MD, Chief, Unit of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Children’s Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Autonomous University, Pg Vall d´Hebro nº 119-129, Barcelona 08035, Spain. dinfante@terra.es
Telephone: +34-93-4893000 Fax: +34-93-4174892
Received: June 22, 2010
Revised: September 9, 2010
Accepted: September 16, 2010
Published online: April 28, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the impact of feeding colicky infants with an adapted formula on the hydrogen breath test and clinical symptoms.

METHODS: Hydrogen expiration was measured by SC MicroLyzer gas chromatography at inclusion and 15 d after treatment with an adapted low-lactose formula in 20 colicky infants.

RESULTS: All babies were symptomatic: 85% with excess gas, 75% with abnormal feeding pattern, and 85% with excessive crying. The hydrogen breath test at inclusion was abnormal: 35 ± 3.1 ppm. After 15 d feeding with an adapted low-lactose formula, crying and flatulence decreased in 85% of patients (P < 0.001). For infants in whom no decrease of gas was reported, crying was still reduced (P < 0.01). Moreover, the feeding pattern was improved in 50% of infants when it was initially considered as abnormal. Finally, the hydrogen breath test decreased significantly (10 ± 2.5 ppm, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: This study showed an association between clinical improvement and evidence of decreased levels of hydrogen when the infants were fed with a specially designed, low-lactose formula.

Keywords: Infants; Colic; Lactose; Hydrogen breath test