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Lactobacillus reuteri accelerates gastric emptying and improves regurgitation in infants

Flavia Indrio1, Giuseppe Riezzo, Francesco Raimondi

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Bari Policlinico Piazza G.Cesare, Bari, Italy. f.indrio@neonatologia.uniba.it

European Journal of Clinical Investigation
|December 1, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Probiotics, specifically Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, significantly reduced regurgitation frequency and improved gastric emptying in infants with functional gastroesophageal reflux (GER). This suggests a potential therapeutic role for probiotics in infant GER management.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Microbiome Research
  • Infant Health

Background:

  • Infant regurgitation is common and often persists despite conventional treatments.
  • Functional gastroesophageal reflux (GER) affects many young infants.
  • Investigating novel interventions like probiotics is crucial for managing infant GER.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in reducing regurgitation frequency.
  • To assess the impact of this probiotic on gastric emptying time in infants with functional GER.
  • To explore the relationship between gastric parameters and regurgitation episodes.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 42 infants with regurgitation.
  • Infants received either Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (1 × 10^8 CFU/day) or placebo for 30 days.
  • Regurgitation episodes were parent-recorded; gastric emptying was assessed via real-time ultrasound.

Main Results:

  • The probiotic group showed a significant reduction in daily regurgitation episodes (P < 0.001).
  • Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 significantly reduced fasting antral area (P = 0.01) and increased gastric emptying rate (P = 0.01).
  • A positive correlation was observed between regurgitation frequency and basal antral area (r = 0.53, P = 0.004).

Conclusions:

  • Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 effectively reduces gastric distension and accelerates gastric emptying in infants with functional GER.
  • This probiotic strain demonstrates potential in diminishing the frequency of regurgitation in infants.
  • Probiotics represent a promising therapeutic option for managing functional GER in infants.
Abstract

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