title: Comparison of formula-fed infants with and without colic revealed significant differences in total bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and faecal ammonia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the faecal microbial composition of formula-fed infants who did and did not have colic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Faecal samples from formula-fed infants under 16 weeks of age with (n = 38) and without (n = 39) colic were collected at Department of Pediatrics in Turin, Italy, between February 2014 and October 2015. The pH and faecal ammonia were determined and total bacteria, bifidobacteria, lactic acid bacteria and coliforms were quantified by fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Faecal ammonia was significantly higher in the colicky infants than in the controls (483 vs. 216 μg/g, p < 0.05). The FISH counts of total bacteria were lower in colicky infants (1.8E10 ± 1.5E10) than in the controls (3.4E10 ± 3.0E10) (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of coliform bacteria was significantly higher in colicky infants (p < 0.05). No differences were observed for the bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria counts between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our comparison of formula-fed infants with and without colic revealed significant differences in total bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and faecal ammonia. This study provides the stimulus for further studies of the gut microbiome, using new methods of analysis such as 16S metagenomics sequencing in order to lead to more tailored dietary approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quartieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Marco
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garro
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amaretti
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raimondi
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simone
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003085:Colic / Q000382:microbiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid; D000641:Ammonia
keywords: Faecal ammonia; Fluorescent in situ hybridisation; Formula-fed infants; Infantile colic; Microbiome