A recent study reveals probiotics given to infants help in reducing gastrointestinal disorders .
Colic pains, acid reflux, vomiting, constipation are some of the gastrointestinal problems babies face in the first three months. These gastrointestinal disorders can lead to further problems like frequent hospitalization, changes in the diet, anxiety in parents and loss of their working days, the study states. Probiotics are found in cheese, yoghurt and soy products and help in reduction of gastrointestinal disorders in babies.
Probiotics are microorganisms which play a significant role in intestinal functions and enhance digestive abilities in human beings. The researchers at University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy, explored the benefits of the microorganisms for infants.
The researchers based their findings on tests conducted on 554 newborn infants. Some of the newborns in the group were given drops of Lactobacillus reuteri (probiotic) mixed with oil while others were treated with a regular oil mixture (placebo) on a daily basis for three months. The parents did not have information on which solution was provided to their little ones and had to report on the changes noticed in their kids over the span of time.
The toddlers who received the probiotic solution, hugely benefitted. The average span of colic pains decreased to 31 minutes compared to 71 minutes in the rest of the babies. The infants suffered less from constipation with an average bowel movement of 4.2 versus the 3.6 for those treated with placebo. The regurgitations in the children reduced to 2.9 versus 4.6 in those receiving the placebo.
According to the researchers, usage of probiotics also helps in reducing the medicinal costs, on an average up to $119 per child. Earlier studies have proved that probiotics help in treating life-threatening bowel disease and diarrhea in premature infants.
However, the researchers are not clear how these probiotics reduce gastrointestinal problems in kids and say further investigations are required to confirm the same.
In fact, some health experts don't believe probiotics are safe to give to infants since the gastrointestinal tracts in the newborns are not matured enough and the microorganisms can slip into the blood stream, causing further health hazards, reports foxnews.
Also all the colic pains are not caused by gastrointestinal problems and probiotics may not help in that case.
