I recently attended an osteopathic conference where I was surprised to hear an internist from New York City comment on how pediatricians are routinely prescribing probiotics for children with digestive problems.
Just last year the medical journal Pediatrics reviewed a study in which probiotics( Lactobacillus reuteri) were compared to simithicone (an anti-gas medication) in alleviating colic symptoms in breast-fed infants. After 28 days of treatment an amazing 95% responded favorably (had a decrease of at least 50% in the average daily crying time) to the probiotic. Whereas, only 7% in the simethicone group had a favorable response.
The use of probiotics has been in use in the complimentary medical field for at least 30 years. It is nice to see that the allopathic profession is beginning to adopt this valuable therapeutic modality.
Terry Pfau DO, HMD