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Cow's milk whey protein elicits symptoms of infantile colic in colicky formula-fed infants: a double-blind crossover
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
Insights
Bovine whey protein can trigger infantile colic symptoms in formula-fed infants. Removing cow's milk protein from the diet significantly reduced colic, indicating a key dietary trigger for infant colic.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
- Allergy & Immunology
Background:
- Infantile colic is a common condition in newborns, with various potential causes.
- Dietary factors, particularly cow's milk protein, are suspected triggers in formula-fed infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if bovine whey proteins cause infantile colic symptoms in affected infants.
- To evaluate the efficacy of a cow's milk-free diet in managing colic.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was conducted on 24 colicky infants.
- Infants were fed either whey protein or human albumin (placebo) in capsules alongside a cow's milk-free diet.
Main Results:
- A cow's milk-free diet (Nutramigen) resolved colic symptoms in 24 out of 27 infants.
- Infants receiving whey protein capsules showed a significant increase in colic symptoms compared to placebo (P < .001).
- Daily crying hours were significantly reduced on the cow's milk-free diet (0.7 hours) versus formula (5.6 hours).
Conclusions:
- Bovine whey protein is identified as a significant elicitor of infantile colic symptoms in susceptible formula-fed infants.
- Dietary elimination of cow's milk protein is an effective strategy for managing infantile colic.
Abstract:
There are several causes of infantile colic. The aim of this study was to evaluate, under controlled conditions, whether bovine whey proteins can elicit symptoms of infantile colic in colicky formula-fed infants. The mean age for entering the study was 6.4 weeks and the mean age for colic debut was 3.7 weeks. In 24 of 27 infants with severe colic, the symptoms disappeared when they were given a cow's milk-free diet (Nutramigen). These 24 infants were entered into a double-blind crossover study. The infants (receiving cow's milk-free diet) were given the contents of identical capsules with each meal during day 6. The same procedure was repeated on day 10. The capsules contained either whey protein powder (with Nutramigen added) or human albumin powder (with Nutramigen added). Eighteen infants receiving the whey protein-containing capsules reacted with colic, two infants receiving placebo reacted with colic (P less than .001), and four infants did not react at all. Crying hours per day for the 24 infants were 5.6 hours for formula-fed infants and 0.7 hour for cow's milk-free diet-fed infants (P less than .001). Crying hours per day were 3.2 hours for the infants receiving whey protein capsules and 1.0 hour for those receiving placebo (P less than .001). In conclusion, bovine whey protein can elicit symptoms of infantile colic in colicky formula-fed infants.
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