Probiotics may Help Prevent Infant Gastrointestinal Disorders

A new study finds feeding your newborn with curd or any other form of probiotic in first three months can reduce the most common gastrointestinal disorders.

A new study finds feeding your newborn with curd or any other form of probiotic in first three months can reduce the most common gastrointestinal disorders like infant colic, acid reflux and constipation.

Infant colic, acid reflux and constipation are the most common gastrointestinal disorders that lead to a paediatrician referral during the first six months of life.

Probiotics - Support System for the Gut
Probiotics are live microorganisms that resemble the “good bacteria” in our gut. Science is yet to fully explore the healing potential of probiotics; meanwhile some studies have ruled in their favor.

"They are often responsible for hospitalisation, feeding changes, use of drugs, parental anxiety and loss of parental working days," said Flavia Indrio of Aldo Moro University of Bari, Italy.

Researchers randomised 554 newborns in nine paediatric units in Italy to the probiotic lactobacillus reuteri or placebo for 90 days.

They asked parents to record in diary entries the number of vomiting episodes and evacuations (emptying of the bowels), the duration of inconsolable crying and the number of pediatrician visits.

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Change in daily crying time, vomiting, constipation and the cost benefits of probiotic supplement use was measured during the three-month period, said the study published in the journal JAMA Paediatrics.

At three months of age, the average duration of crying time, regurgitations and evacuations per day was less in children who were given probiotic, it added.

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"Probiotic improves intestinal permeability, visceral sensitivity and mast cell density. The probiotic use in infants may represent a new strategy for preventing many gastrointestinal conditions," the authors said.

Source-IANS

Quiz on Probiotics
Though probiotics have been a part of our diet since ancient times, their use as medicines has been relatively recent. Test your knowledge on probiotics by taking this quiz.