Lactase for Baby Colic: Does It Help?
Quick Summary: A 2018 review of studies on infantile colic—a common condition causing excessive crying in babies—examined treatments like lactase supplements. It found weak evidence that lactase helps reduce symptoms, with no strong proof for its use. Instead, the review recommends starting with parent counseling to ease worries, as colic usually goes away on its own.
What The Research Found
This review looked at the latest ideas on why babies get colic and what might help. Colic often involves intense crying for hours, usually in the first few months of life. Researchers found no clear cause, but theories include tummy troubles or feeding issues. For treatments, they checked options like lactase (an enzyme that breaks down milk sugar to aid digestion), probiotics, diet changes, and pain relievers. The key takeaway? Lactase supplementation shows limited promise—some small studies suggest it might cut crying time, but overall evidence is too mixed and weak to recommend it widely. Other treatments like simethicone (a gas-relief drop) don't work, and certain meds are unsafe for young babies. Parent education tops the list for now.
Study Details
- Who was studied: The review pulled together data from past studies on healthy babies under 3 months old who had colic, defined as crying more than 3 hours a day, at least 3 days a week. It didn't focus on one group but summarized findings from many trials involving hundreds of infants.
- How long: Colic episodes typically last from birth to about 3-4 months; the review covered research up to 2018 without a single study duration, as it analyzed multiple short-term trials (often 2-4 weeks).
- What they took: Lactase was given as drops or supplements added to formula or breast milk to help digest lactose (milk sugar). Exact doses varied by study—often 300-600 mg per feeding—but the review didn't endorse a standard amount due to inconsistent results.
What This Means For You
If your baby has colic, don't rush to buy lactase drops expecting a miracle cure. This research suggests it might help some babies with possible lactose sensitivity by making milk easier to digest, potentially shortening cry spells. But with weak evidence, talk to your pediatrician first—they can check if it's worth trying alongside simple steps like soothing techniques or feeding adjustments. What really helps most parents? Learning that colic is harmless and temporary, which cuts stress and makes evenings more bearable. Track your baby's patterns and seek support; if crying seems extreme, rule out other issues like reflux.
Study Limitations
This was a summary of older studies (up to 2018), so newer research might change things—evidence on lactase remains spotty with small, varied trials that don't always agree. It didn't test lactase directly but relied on mixed results from others, so we can't say for sure how well it works for every baby. Plus, colic's causes aren't fully understood, making treatments hit-or-miss. Always consult a doctor for personalized advice, as self-treating could miss bigger problems.
Technical Analysis Details
Key Findings
This 2018 systematic review found insufficient evidence to support lactase supplementation as an effective treatment for infantile colic. While lactase and other interventions (e.g., probiotics, dietary changes) were discussed as potential therapies, the authors concluded that no single approach has robust clinical backing. Parental counseling remains the first-line management strategy, with treatments often tailored to parental perceptions rather than standardized protocols.
Study Design
The study is a systematic review (classified as an observational study by the user) analyzing existing literature on infantile colic. Researchers searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Google Scholar using keywords like "Infant colic" and "excessive crying in infants." It synthesizes findings from prior clinical trials and observational studies but does not report original sample sizes, participant demographics, or study durations.
Dosage & Administration
The review does not specify lactase dosages or administration methods. It broadly references lactase supplementation as a category of intervention without detailing protocols from individual trials.
Results & Efficacy
The study reports no conclusive efficacy for lactase in reducing colic symptoms. Authors note a lack of strong evidence for lactase, probiotics, and dietary modifications, with conflicting results across trials. No quantitative outcomes (e.g., crying duration reduction, p-values, confidence intervals) are provided in the summary, as this review focuses on qualitative synthesis rather than statistical pooling of data.
Limitations
As a review article, this study’s limitations include reliance on the quality of existing research up to 2018, which the authors describe as heterogeneous and inconclusive. It does not conduct meta-analyses or critical appraisals of individual trials, and no specific lactase studies are highlighted in detail. The authors acknowledge gaps in understanding colic’s etiology and the need for larger, well-controlled trials to evaluate interventions like lactase.
Clinical Relevance
For caregivers and clinicians, this review underscores that lactase supplementation should not be considered a standardized or proven treatment for infantile colic. Current guidelines prioritize parental education and reassurance about colic’s benign, self-limiting nature. Lactase or other therapies may be trialed on a case-by-case basis, but decisions should be informed by shared understanding of the weak evidence base. Future research is needed to clarify lactase’s role in specific subpopulations (e.g., lactose-intolerant infants).
Note: This analysis focuses on the 2018 review’s conclusions and methodology. The study itself does not present original data but highlights gaps in the literature regarding lactase and other colic interventions.
