Does maternal diet affect infantile colic?

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal diet on infantile colic without any interventions or food restrictions.Methods: Thirty colicky and 29 non-colicky infants were included in this prospective study. Mother’s diet and baby crying time were recorded for 1 week by mothers; nutritionist classified contents of mother’s diet and compared the diet of mother in colicky and non-colicky infants.Results: It was found that mothers of non-colicky infants consumed significantly more grapes and lemons than mothers of colicky infants (p = 0.044). The crying time was moderately negatively correlated with the percentage of protein in the maternal diet (R = –0.45, p = 0.01) and the presence of potatoes in the maternal diet (R = –0.38, p = 0.034) and positively correlated with the maternal consumption of walnut (R = 0.38, p = 0.034), banana (R = 0.44, p = 0.01).Conclusions: Removing bananas from the maternal diet may reduce colic. The consumption of a protein-rich maternal diet, grapes, lemons and potatoes by breastfeeding mothers may protect infants from colic.