title: Dietary treatment of colic caused by excess gas in infants: biochemical evidence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of feeding colicky infants with an adapted formula on the hydrogen breath test and clinical symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hydrogen expiration was measured by SC MicroLyzer gas chromatography at inclusion and 15 d after treatment with an adapted low-lactose formula in 20 colicky infants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All babies were symptomatic: 85% with excess gas, 75% with abnormal feeding pattern, and 85% with excessive crying. The hydrogen breath test at inclusion was abnormal: 35 ± 3.1 ppm. After 15 d feeding with an adapted low-lactose formula, crying and flatulence decreased in 85% of patients (P < 0.001). For infants in whom no decrease of gas was reported, crying was still reduced (P < 0.01). Moreover, the feeding pattern was improved in 50% of infants when it was initially considered as abnormal. Finally, the hydrogen breath test decreased significantly (10 ± 2.5 ppm, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed an association between clinical improvement and evidence of decreased levels of hydrogen when the infants were fed with a specially designed, low-lactose formula.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Children's Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Autonomous University, Barcelona 08035, Spain. dinfante@terra.es
authors.forename: Dámaso
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Infante
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Segarra
authors.forename: Bernard Le
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Luyer
mesh_terms: D001944:Breath Tests; D003085:Colic / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D004032:Diet; D005414:Flatulence / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry; D007785:Lactose / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006859:Hydrogen; D007785:Lactose