Savino F, et al. - This analysis examined the crying time, retinoid-related orphan receptor-γ (RORγ) and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) messenger RNA levels (transcription factors possibly modulating the T cell responses to gut microbes). Additionally, it gauged the gut microbiota and fecal calprotectin in infants treated with Lactobacillus reuteri for infantile colic. A substantially decreased crying time and an increased FOXP3 concentration was reported among infants with colic treated with L reuteri for 30 days. This, in turn, led to a decreased RORγ/FOXP3 ratio. It was disclosed that the treatment reduced fecal calprotectin.

Methods

• The scheme of this trial was a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial.
• It was carried out in the primary care of Torino from August 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016.
• Patients suffering from infantile colic were randomly allocated to receive daily oral L reuteri (1 × 10⁸ colony forming unit) or placebo for 1 month.
• Daily crying times were recorded in a structured diary.
• FOXP3 and RORγ messenger RNA in the peripheral blood was evaluated through the real-time TaqMan reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
• An inspection was performed of the gut microbiota and fecal calprotectin.

Results

• Crying times displayed considerably shorter among infants with colic in the probiotic group compared with infants in the placebo group (74.67 ± 25.04 [IQR = 79] minutes /day vs 147.85 [IQR = 135] minutes /day [P = .001]), after infants with colic were supplemented with L reuteri DSM 17938 for 30 days.
• The FOXP3 concentration raised substantially (P = .009), leading to decreased RORγ/FOXP3 ratios: 0.61 (IQR = 0.60) at day 0 and 0.48 (IQR = 0.28) at day 30 (P = .028).
• Probiotic increased the percentage of Lactobacillus (P = .049) and decreased fecal calprotectin (P = .0001).