Efficacy of a standardized extract of Matricariae chamomilla L., Melissa officinalis L. and tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122) in infantile colic: An open randomized controlled trial.

Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2017 Dec;29(12). doi: 10.1111/nmo.13145. Epub 2017 Jun 30. Martinelli M1, Ummarino D1, Giugliano FP1, Sciorio E1, Tortora C1, Bruzzese D2, De Giovanni D3, Rutigliano I3, Valenti S4, Romano C4, Campanozzi A3, Miele E1, Staiano A1. Author information 1 Department of Translational Medical Science, Section of Pediatrics, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy. 2 Department of Public Health, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy. 3 Institute of Pediatrics of the University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy. 4 Endoscopy and Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. Abstract BACKGROUND: Infant colic (IC) is a prevalent physiological event of infants, which can disrupt the child's home environment. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a mixture of Matricariae chamomilla L., Melissa officinalis L. and tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122) compared with Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and with simethicone for the treatment of IC. METHODS: A multicenter randomized comparative study was conducted in infants with colic, according to Rome III criteria, who were randomly assigned to receive M. chamomilla L., M. officinalis L. and tyndallized L. acidophilus (HA122) (Colimil® Plus® ; Milte Italia Spa, Milan, Italy) (Group A), L. reuteri DSM 17938 (Group B) and simethicone (Group C). Treatment was given to subjects for 28 days. KEY RESULTS: One-hundred and seventy-six patients completed the study. Mean daily crying time at day 28 was significantly lower in group A (-44, 95% CI: -58 to -30, P<.001) and group B (-35, 95% CI: -49 to -20, P<.001) when compared to group C. No significant difference was observed between Group A and Group B (mean difference: -9 minutes, 95% CI -23 to +5, P=.205). At day 28, 39 of 57 (68.4%) of infants in Group C responded to the treatment compared with 57 out of 60 patients (95%) of Group A and 51 out of 59 (86.4%) of Group B (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that administration of M. chamomilla L., M. officinalis L. and tyndallized L. acidophilus (HA122) and L. reuteri DSM 17938 are significantly more effective than simethicone in IC. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02708238. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. KEYWORDS: complementary and alternative medicine; herbal supplement; infantile colic; probiotics PMID: 28665038 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.13145