Background: Recent experimental evidence suggests that gut microbiota may alter function within the nervous system providing new insight on the mechanism of neuropsychiatric disorders. Methods: Seventy-five infants who were randomized to receive Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103) or placebo during the first 6 mo of life were followed-up for 13 y. Gut microbiota was assessed at the age of 3 wk, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 mo, and 13 y using fluorescein in situ hybridization (FISH) and qPCR, and indirectly by determining the blood group secretor type at the age of 13 y. The diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Asperger syndrome (AS) by a child neurologist or psychiatrist were based on ICD-10 diagnostic criteria. results: At the age of 13 y, ADHD or AS was diagnosed in 6/35 (17.1%) children in the placebo and none in the probiotic group (P = 0.008). The mean (SD) numbers of Bifidobacterium species bacteria in feces during the first 6 mo of life was lower in affected children 8.26 (1.24) log cells/g than in healthy children 9.12 (0.64) log cells/g; P = 0.03. conclusion: Probiotic supplementation early in life may reduce the risk of neuropsychiatric disorder development later in childhood possible by mechanisms not limited to gut microbiota composition.P sychiatric disorders are already ranked among the leading causes of disability in industrialized countries. With the current progressive increase in the incidence, they may be expected to assume the first place also globally within the next few years (1,2). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, affects three to seven percent of children worldwide (3,4). Moreover, symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity are frequent in children with Asperger syndrome (AS), which is characterized by stereotyped behavior and deficient social interaction and communication skills (5). Besides the common behavioral features, shared biological pathways and neuroanatomical links between these diseases have been reported (5,6).Despite intensive research on ADHD and AS, the precise chain of pathological events underlying them remains unknown. The available data indicate ADHD and AS to be multifactorial disorders, in which genetic risk predominates, reinforced by various environmental and biological factors such as fetal stress, prematurity, toxins, and diet (7). Recently, the search for etiologies has been expanded both within the central nervous system and beyond. Experimental data are accumulating to suggest that the presence of gut microbiota as such, as compared with the absence of it, and especially its certain beneficial bacteria, probiotics, make for altered function within the nervous system (8-12). As a recent empirical study indicates (13) probiotics may provide a tool to manipulate brain activity even in humans.To test the hypothetical involvement of the gut brain-axis in the manifestation of ADHD and AS, we analyzed the association of compositional development of the gut microbiota, the...

DSM17938 is effective and can be recommended for breastfed infants with colic. Its role in formula-fed infants with colic needs further research.

ObjectivesOur aim was to establish whether there is an interconnection between the compositional development of the gut microbiota and the amount of fussing and crying in early infancy.MethodsBehavioral patterns of 89 infants during the 7th and 12th week of life were recorded in parental diaries. Total distress was defined as the sum of daily amounts of crying and fussing. Infants' gut microbiota profiles were investigated by several molecular assays during the first six months of life.ResultsThe median (range) duration of total distress among the infants was 106 (0–478) minutes a day during the 7th and 58 (0–448) minutes a day during the 12th week. The proportion of Bifidobacterium counts to total bacterial counts was inversely associated with the amount of crying and fussing during the first 3 months of life (p = 0.03), although the number of Bifidobacterium breve was positively associated with total distress (p = 0.02). The frequency of Lactobacillus spp. at the age of 3 weeks was inversely associated with total infant distress during the 7th week of life (p = 0.02).Conclusions Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus appear to protect against crying and fussing. Identification of specific strains with optimal protective properties would benefit at-risk infants.