Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

α-Lactalbumin-enriched and probiotic-supplemented infant formula in infants with colic: growth and gastrointestinal tolerance

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 64, pages 765–767 (2010)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Studies undertaken with α-lactalbumin-enriched formulae never addressed infants with colic. This study evaluated the nutritional adequacy, the gastrointestinal tolerance and the effect on colic of an α-lactalbumin-enriched and probiotic-supplemented formula. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 66 healthy infants with colic, aged 3 weeks to 3 months, fed during 1 month with the either experimental formula (EF, Modilac Digest 1) or control formula (CF) and evaluated for efficacy and safety parameters at days 15 and 30. Weight and height gains were identical in the two groups and complied with standards (1023.4±360.4 g (EF) and 1047.4±372.1 g (CF), NS; 4.2±1.4 cm (EF) and 4.3±1.9 cm (CF), NS). No differences were found between groups for crying duration. ‘Feeding-related’ gastrointestinal side effects were significantly lower with EF than with CF (P=0.011). An α-lactalbumin-enriched and probiotic-supplemented formula guaranteed good weight and length gains to infants with colic and seemed to provide good gastrointestinal tolerance.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1

References

  • Cohen-Silver J, Ratnapalan S (2009). Management of infantile colic: a review. Clin Pediatr 48, 14–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coppa GV, Bruni S, Morelli L, Soldi S, Gabrielli O (2004). The first prebiotics in humans: human milk oligosaccharides. J Clin Gastroenterol 38 (6 Suppl), S80–S83.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davis AM, Harris BJ, Lien EL, Pramuk K, Trabulsi J (2008). α-Lactalbumin-rich infant formula fed to healthy term infants in a multicenter study: plasma essential amino acids and gastrointestinal tolerance. Eur J Clin Nutr 62, 1294–1301.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heine W, Radke M, Wutzke KD, Peters E, Kundt G (1996). Alpha-lactalbumin-enriched low-protein infant formulas: a comparison to breast milk feeding. Acta Paediatr 85, 1024–1028.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lien EL, Davis AM, Euler AR (2004). Growth and safety in term infants fed reduced-protein formula with added bovine alpha-lactalbumin. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 38, 170–176.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Savino F (2007). Focus on infantile colic. Acta Paediatr 96, 1259–1264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savino F, Palumeri E, Castagno E, Cresi F, Dalmasso P, Cavallo F et al. (2006). Reduction of crying episodes owing to infantile colic: a randomized controlled study on the efficacy of a new infant formula. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 1304–1310.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Savino F, Pelle E, Palumeri E, Oggero R, Miniero R (2007). Lactobacillus reuteri (American Type Culture Collection strain 55730) versus simethicone in the treatment of infantile colic: a prospective randomized study. Pediatrics 119, e124–e130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wessel MA, Cobb JC, Jackson EB, Harris Jr GS, Detwiler AC (1954). Paroxysmal fussing in infancy, sometimes called colic. Pediatrics 14, 421–435.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization de Onis M, Garza C, Cesar G, Maharaj K, Kaare R guest editors (2004). Multicentre Growth Reference Study (MGRS): rationale, planning, and implementation. Food Nutr Bull 25, S3–S84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by Sodilac, France. We thank the Ordesa Group for providing scientific support. The protocol was carried out by the following general paediatricians: Dr N Belaroussi Maamri, Dr F Gressin-Cohen, Dr C Grillon, Dr S Hadji, Dr N Kalach, Dr B Pacault, Dr C Rizk, Dr A Locquet and Dr K Ara.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service de Néonatologie et Nutrition, Hôpital St Vincent de Paul, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France

    C Dupont

  2. Research and Development Department, Ordesa Group, Barcelona, Spain

    M Rivero

  3. 18 rue de l'Abreuvoir, 77100, Meaux, France

    C Grillon

  4. 108 rue Point du Jour, 92100, Boulogne Billancourt, France

    N Belaroussi

  5. 72 avenue Victor Cresson, 92130, Issy les Moulineaux, France

    A Kalindjian

  6. Department of Development Sodilac, Levallois Perret cedex, France

    V Marin

Authors
  1. C Dupont
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M Rivero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C Grillon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N Belaroussi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A Kalindjian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. V Marin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C Dupont.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

Honoraria were granted to Professor C Dupont for coordination of the study and to all investigators, including Dr N Belaroussi, Dr F Gressin-Cohen, Dr C Grillon, Dr S Hadji, Dr N Kalach, Dr B Pacault, Dr C Rizk, Dr A Locquet and Dr K Ara.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dupont, C., Rivero, M., Grillon, C. et al. α-Lactalbumin-enriched and probiotic-supplemented infant formula in infants with colic: growth and gastrointestinal tolerance. Eur J Clin Nutr 64, 765–767 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.81

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.81

Keywords

  • colic
  • infant formula
  • α-lactalbumin
  • protein composition
  • probiotics

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links