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Colonic hydrogen elimination and methane production in infants with and without infantile colic syndrome

Amir Belson1, Avinash K Shetty, Peter D Yorgin

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California 94305-5208, USA.

Digestive Diseases and Sciences
|October 17, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Higher methane production in infant stool may alleviate infantile colic (IC). This study found no link between IC and demographics but observed increased methane with age, suggesting a protective role for methane in colic development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Gastroenterology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Infantile colic (IC) is a common condition in infants, affecting up to 30% of newborns.
  • The etiology of IC remains unclear, with various factors including gut microbiota and gas production being investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between demographic factors, nutrition, and stool gas production (hydrogen and methane) in infants with and without infantile colic.
  • To determine if methane production influences the presence or severity of infantile colic.

Main Methods:

  • Quantified hydrogen and methane production from stool specimens of 59 infants (30 with IC) at two time points: <12 weeks and >6 months of age.
  • Analyzed demographic data including birth weight, gestational age, sex, feeding type, parental age, and education.
  • Correlated stool gas levels with IC diagnosis and infant age.

Main Results:

  • No correlation was found between infantile colic and demographic factors, feeding type, or stool characteristics.
  • Methane production in stool increased significantly with age, from 0.95 ppm at 3 months to 1.29 ppm at 6 months.
  • Infants without IC showed higher mean methane levels at 6 months (1.56 ppm) compared to infants with IC (0.93 ppm), a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05).
  • Higher methane production at 3 and 6 months was associated with significantly less colic in early infancy (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Methane production, particularly at higher levels, may play a role in alleviating infantile colic.
  • The findings suggest a potential protective effect of methane against infantile colic.
  • Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.

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