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Lactase for infantile colic: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials.

  • 2024-05-08
  • Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition 79(4)
    • Angélica Luciana Nau
    • Amanda Santiago Bassan
    • Alessandra Bacelar Cezar
    • Gabriel Assis de Carlos
    • Mariana Deboni

Study Design

Type
Systematic Review
Sample size
n = 394
Population
infants up to 6 months old with infantile colic
Methods
Systematic review of RCTs; searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane for RCTs evaluating lactase supplementation
Infantile colic is excessive crying for no apparent reason in an otherwise healthy infant. Although its physiopathology is not completely understood, therapies usually target gastrointestinal symptoms. This systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) analyzes the efficacy of lactase supplementation in infantile colic. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for RCTs evaluating lactase supplementation in infants up to 6 months old with infantile colic. Out of six RCTs including 394 patients, three reported a significantly shorter crying time in the lactase group than in the placebo group, while the other three found no significant difference between groups. Of the two studies that performed the hydrogen breath test, only one reported a significant reduction in exhaled hydrogen levels. The pharmacological approach to infantile colic remains debatable, and new studies with standardized diagnostic criteria and outcomes are required to guide lactase supplementation in clinical practice.

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