The jury is still out on the efficacy of lactase for alleviating colic

The jury is still out on the efficacy of lactase for alleviating colic | Image Credit: Contemporary Pediatrics

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A meta-analysis of 5 studies on the effect of lactase supplementation on infant colic found that the effectiveness of this treatment is still open to question. The analysis was based on 5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 391 infants aged from 23 days to 6 months who were diagnosed with infant colic and were treated orally with either lactase or a placebo for 7 days to 28 days.

Three RCTs involving a total of 214 infants reported on this study’s main outcome: differences in daily crying duration between infants receiving supplemental lactase and those receiving placebo. These 3 studies found that lactase treatment reduced crying duration, but a meta-analysis of the other 2 studies (one crossover and one parallel) found no difference from placebo during 1 week of lactase supplementation.

In other results, 1 RCT reported less fussing in the lactase group than in the placebo group during a 3-week period, but a meta-analysis of 2 other RCTs found no difference between the 2 groups. Other outcomes were assessed only in individual studies or not reported.

THOUGHTS FROM DR FARBER

Here’s yet a third report where suggestive anecdotal evidence did not hold up. It is not surprising that lactase was ineffective, given that infants are obligate lactose digesters (breast milk has lactose). The quest for a cure for colic continues.

Reference:

Kozłowska-Jalowska A, Stróżyk A, Horvath A, Szajewska H. Effect of lactase supplementation on infant colic: systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2024;78(5):1009-1016. doi: 10.1002/jpn3.12144