Efficacy and safety of APT198K for the treatment of infantile colic: a pilot study.

Aim: Comparing efficacy and safety of APT198K (xyloglucan plus heat-killed Lactobacillus reuteri SGL01 and Bifidobacterium brevis SGB01) versus a lactase dietary supplement as first-line treatment of infantile colic.

Methods: Randomized, multicenter, open-label, parallel group, active-controlled study, in 46 infants aged 3-16 weeks with infantile colic, receiving APT198K or a lactase dietary supplement for 10 days.

Results: Number and duration of crying episodes decreased significantly versus baseline in both groups. On day 8, the mean duration of crying per episode was significantly shorter in the APT198K group compared with the lactase group (9.14 ± 5.34 vs 13.22 ± 5.29 min; p = 0.014) and remained so up to day 11.

Conclusion: APT198K decreased the mean duration per crying episode significantly more than a lactase dietary supplement in infants with colic. Further evaluation in larger studies is warranted. Clinical trial registry: EudraCT number 2014-002860-334; https://eudract.ema.europa.eu .