Can Bifidobacterium treat colic in newborns?
Mar 04, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Introduction
If infantile colic in newborns is caused by intestinal flora imbalance, bifidobacteria usually can help treat it. However, if the colic is caused by factors such as milk protein allergy or lactose intolerance, bifidobacteria generally are not effective. During treatment, parents can also take some supportive measures to alleviate the child's symptoms, such as feeding on demand and ensuring a comfortable sleeping environment for the child.
Generally, if infantile colic in newborns is caused by intestinal flora imbalance, bifidobacteria usually can help treat it. However, if the colic is caused by other factors such as cow's milk protein allergy or lactose intolerance, bifidobacteria usually cannot provide effective treatment. Detailed explanation is as follows:
In newborns, the intestinal flora has not yet fully developed. Bifidobacteria, as a type of probiotic, can help establish and improve the normal intestinal flora, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, and enhance the intestinal microenvironment. If infantile colic is caused by an imbalance in the intestinal flora, taking bifidobacteria may help restore the balance of the gut microbiota and thereby alleviate symptoms of colic.
If the infantile colic in newborns is caused by other factors, such as cow's milk protein allergy, lactose intolerance, abnormal intestinal development, abdominal cold exposure, improper feeding, etc., bifidobacteria may not address the underlying issue and may not effectively relieve the colic. For example, newborns allergic to cow's milk protein need to switch to special formula milk, such as hydrolyzed protein formula, to relieve symptoms. Using only bifidobacteria may not yield significant improvement.
During treatment, parents can also adopt some supportive measures to help alleviate the baby's symptoms, such as feeding on demand and ensuring a comfortable sleeping environment for the baby.
