Is Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Effective for Infant Colic?

Based on the available research, there is evidence supporting the use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG for reducing infant colic, though the body of research is still relatively limited.

What the Research Shows

Pillser's research database contains 1 study (a 2022 review) examining L. rhamnosus GG for infant colic¹:

Finding	Count
Beneficial	1
Neutral	0
Harmful	0

The 2022 review paper on probiotics in pediatrics concluded that both L. rhamnosus GG and L. reuteri DSM 17938 were effective for managing infant colic, with a small but statistically significant beneficial effect².

Key Takeaways

• ✅ Yes, it appears effective — the evidence points to a beneficial effect, though the effect size is described as small.
• 📚 The evidence is currently based on a single review paper, so more research would strengthen these conclusions.
• 🔬 L. reuteri DSM 17938 is another probiotic strain that also showed effectiveness in the same review and has a larger body of evidence behind it for colic specifically.

Important Considerations

• Always consult with a pediatrician before giving probiotics to an infant, especially for a medical concern like colic.
• Colic can have multiple underlying causes (e.g., food allergies, GERD, feeding issues), and probiotics may not address all of them.
• Dosing, formulation (drops vs. powder), and storage conditions matter for live probiotic organisms.

Let me know if you'd like to see product recommendations for L. rhamnosus GG probiotics for infants!

Footnotes

1. Pillser research database, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Reduced Infant Colics. ↩

2. "Approach to probiotics in pediatrics: the role of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG" (2022), Pillser Research Paper Page. ↩