Abstract 186

Aims: The role of diet in colic is controversial. A pilot study was conducted in breastfed infants less than 6 weeks old with colic to test the feasibility of supplementing a low allergen restricted maternal diet with an elemental amino acid preparation to maintain adequate calorie intake (2600 calories a day) over a 3 week period. Methods: 17 mother/infant breastfeeding pairs were studied; all infants were less than 6 weeks and defined as having severe colic. The mothers were placed on a low allergen restricted diet supplemented with elemental amino acid preparation. Results: 13 infants reduced their distress by over 25% within 2 weeks; 8 of these infants relapsed when the maternal diet was normalised. 13 of the mothers tolerated the supplement well, 3 tolerated it with difficulty and one found it unacceptable. Conclusion: A low allergen restricted diet in breastfeeding mothers of colicky infants less than 6 weeks of age reduced colicky symptoms; dietary supplementation with low allergen formula maintained adequate nutritional intake in the mothers who tolerated it. A placebo controlled study is required to confirm the results of this pilot investigation.

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