Reducing the maternal dietary intake of indigestible and slowly absorbed short-chain carbohydrates is associated with improved infantile colic: a proof-of-concept study

The low FODMAP diet (a nutritive oral diet therapy, for the mother) will be provided to investigate if there is any relief of colicky symptoms such as wind/gas, drawing up of knees, back arching, excessive fussing and crying. The low FODMAP diet refers to Fermentable, oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols (short chain carbohydrates) which are commonly malabsorbed by the gut and in some people problematic, leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, wind/gas, distension, altered bowel habits of diarrhoea, constipation or both. The low FODMAP diet reduces the intake of such carbohydrates which are shown to reduce the symptoms in up to 80% of adults and this diet is being trialled on infants who are colicky and unsettled, who display similar symptoms to adults with IBS. The diet consists of various foods from all the main food groups and is a well balanced nutritious diet meeting the energy requirements of a breast feeding mother - all foods (meals and snacks) are provided for consumption by the mother, for a period of seven days by the researcher who is also an accredited practicing dietitian (APD). Adherence is monitored by food diaries however 100% compliance is guaranteed if the participants only consume foods that have been provided for the intervention period of seven days.