What is colic? A bibliography of scientific studies about the causes of infantile colic

Compiled by Gwen Dewar (last updated 10/2009)

Here is a list of references about infantile colic. I cite them in my articles

• "What is colic? A critical review of the scientific evidence."

and

• "The causes of colic: How disease and differences in brain chemistry can explain excessive, inconsolable crying in young babies"

I've organized the references by subtopic. If you want a specific reference cited in the overview, scroll down to "General references about colic" below.

Anisfeld E, Casper V, Nozyce M, and Cunningham N. 1990. Does infant carrying promote attachment? An experimental study of the effects of increased physical contact on the development of attachment. Child Dev. 61(5):1617-27.

Barr RG, Konner M, Bakeman R and Adamson L. 1991a. Crying in !Kung San infants: A test of the cultural specificity hypothesis. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 33: 601-610.

Hunziker UA and Barr RG. 1986. Increased carrying reduces infant crying: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics. 77(5):641-8.

Barr RG, McMullan SJ, Spiess H, Leduc DG, Yaremko J, Barfield R, Francoeur TE, Hunziker UA. 1991b. Carrying as colic "therapy": a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics. 87(5):623-30.

St James-Roberts I, Hurry J, Bowyer J, Barr RG. 1995. Supplementary carrying compared with advice to increase responsive parenting as interventions to prevent persistent infant crying. Pediatrics. 95(3):381-8.

St James-Roberts I, Alvarez M, Csipke E, Abramsky T, Goodwin J, and Sorgenfrei E. 2006. Infant crying and sleeping in London, Copenhagen and when parents adopt a "proximal" form of care. Pediatrics. 117(6):e1146-55

Akman I, Kusçu K, Ozdemir N, Yurdakul Z, Solakoglu M, Orhan L, Karabekiroglu A, Ozek E. 2006. Mothers' postpartum psychological adjustment and infantile colic. Arch Dis Child. 91(5):417-9. (Turkey).

Chen IL and Chwo MJ. 2006. [The problems and management of excessive crying and fussing in infants] Hu Li Za Zhi. 53(4):17-23. In Chinese.

Garg P. 2004. Infantile colic--unfolded. Indian J Pediatr. 71(10):903-6.

Leung AK and Lemay JF. 2004. Infantile colic: A review. J R Soc Health 124: 162-166.

Oshikoya KA, Senbanjo IO, Njokanma OF. 2009. Self-medication for infants with colic in Lagos, Nigeria. BMC Pediatrics 9: 9-16.

Saavedra MA, da Costa JS, Garcias G, Horta BL, Tomasi E, Mendonça R. 2003. [Infantile colic incidence and associated risk factors: a cohort study] J Pediatr (Rio J). 79(2):115-22. In Portuguese.

Talachian E, Bidari A, Rezaie MH. 2008. Incidence and risk factors for infantile colic in Iranian infants. World J Gastroenterol. 14(29):4662-6.

Barlow CF. 1994. Migraine in the infant and toddler. J. Child Neurol. 9: 92-94.

Bartrop RW and Hull D. 1973. Transient lactose intolerance in infancy. Archives of diseases in childhood. 48: 963-966.

Bhatia J and Parish A. 2009. GERD or not GERD: the fussy infant. J Perinatol. 29 Suppl 2:S7-11.

Buckley M. 2000. Some new and important clues to the causes of colic. Br J Community Nurs. 5(9): 462, 464-465.

Duro D, Rising R, Cedillo M, Lifshitz F. 2002. Association between infantile colic and carbohydrate malabsorption from fruit juices in infancy. Pediatrics. 109(5):797-805.

Forsyth BWC. 1989. Colic and the effect of changing formulas: a double-bind, multiple crossover study. Journal of Pediatrics 115: 521-526.

Jan MMS and Al-Buhairi AR. 2001. Is infantile colic a migraine-related phenomenon? Clinical Pediatrics 40: 295-297.

Heubi J, Karasov R, Reisinger K, et al. Randomized multicenter trial documenting the efficacy and safety of a lactose-free and a lactose-containing formula for term infants. J Am Diet Assoc. 100 :212 –217.

Heyman MB. 2006. Lactose Intolerance in Infants, Children, and Adolescents Pediatrics 118(3): 1279-1286.

Kanabar D, Randhawa M, Clayton P. Improvement of symptoms in infant colic following reduction of lactose load with lactase. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2001;14(5):359–363.

Lindberg T. 1999. Infantile colic and small intestinal function: a nutritional problem? Acta Paediatr Suppl. 88(430):58-60.

Lothe L, Lindberg T, and Jakobsson I. 1982. Cow's milk formula as a cause of infantile colic: a double-blind study. Pediatrics. 70(1):7-10.

Lothe L, Ivarson A, Lindberg T. 1987. Motilin, vasoactive intestinal peptide and gastrin in infantile colic. Act Paediatr. Scand. 76: 316-320.

Lothe LI, Ivarson S-A, Ekman R, Lindberg T. 1990. Motilin and infantile colic. Acta Paediatr Scand 79: 410-416.

Lucassen PL, Assendelft WJ, Gubbels JW, van Eijk JT, van Geldrop WJ, Neven AK. 1998. Effectiveness of treatments for infantile colic: systematic review. BMJ. 316(7144):1563-9.

Savino F, Castagno E, Bretto R, Brondello C, Palumeri E, Oggero R. 2005. A prospective 10-year study on children who had severe infantile colic. Acta Paediatr Suppl. 94(449):129-32.

Savino F, Cordisco L, Tarasco V, Calabrese R, Palumeri E, and Matteuzzi D. 2009. Molecular identification of coliform bacteria from colicky breastfed infants. Acta Paediatr. [Epub ahead of print].

Savino F, Grassino EC, Guidi C, Oggero R, Silvestro L, and Miniero R. 2006. Ghrelin and motilin concentration in colicky infants. Acta Paediatr. 95(6):738-41.

Savino F, Pelle E, Palumeri E, Oggero R, and Miniero R. 2007. Lactobacillus reuteri (American Type Culture Collection Strain 55730) versus simethicone in the treatment of infantile colic: a prospective randomized study. Pediatrics. 119(1):e124-30.

Weissbluth L and Weissbluth M. 1992. Infant colic: the effect of serotonin and melatonin circadian rhythms on the intestinal smooth muscle. Med Hypotheses. 39(2):164-7.

Barr RG, Young SN, Wright JH, Gravel R, and Alkawaf R. 1999. Differential calming responses to sucrose taste in crying infants with and without colic. Pediatrics. 103(5):e68.

Barr RG, Rotman A, Yaremko J, Leduc D and Francoear TE. 1992. The crying of infants with colic: A controlled empirical description. Pediatrics 90: 14-21.Barr 1999

Lucassen PL, Assendelft WJ, Gubbels JW, van Eijk JT, van Geldrop WJ, Neven AK. 1998. Effectiveness of treatments for infantile colic: systematic review. BMJ. 316(7144):1563-9.

St James-Roberts I, Goodwin J, Peter B, Adams D, and Hunt S. 2003. Individual differences in responsivity to a neurobehavioural examination predict crying patterns of 1-week-old infants at home Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 45(6):400-407.

General references about infantile colic

Barr RG. 1990. The normal crying curve: What do we really know? Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 32: 356-362.

Barr RG, Trent RB, and Cross J. 2006. Age-related incidence curve of hospitalized Shaken Baby Syndrome cases: convergent evidence for crying as a trigger to shaking. Child Abuse Negl. 30(1):7-16.

Barr RG, Konner M, Bakeman R and Adamson L. 1991a. Crying in !Kung San infants: A test of the cultural specificity hypothesis. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 33: 601-610.

Barr RG, McMullan SJ, Spiess H, Leduc DG, Yaremko J, Barfield R, Francoeur TE, Hunziker UA. 1991b. Carrying as colic "therapy": a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics. 87(5):623-30.

Barr RG, Rotman A, Yaremko J, Leduc D and Francoear TE. 1992. The crying of infants with colic: A controlled empirical description. Pediatrics 90: 14-21.

Barr RG, Young SN, Wright JH, Gravel R and Alkawaf R. 1995. Differential calming responses to sucrose taste in crying infants with and without colic. Pediatrics 103(5): e68.

Buckley M. 2000. Some new and important clues to the causes of colic. Br J Community Nurs. 5(9): 462, 464-465.

Chen IL and Chwo MJ. 2006. [The problems and management of excessive crying and fussing in infants] Hu Li Za Zhi. 53(4):17-23. In Chinese.

Forsyth BWC. 1989. Colic and the effect of changing formulas: a double-bind, multiple crossover study. Journal of Pediatrics 115: 521-526.

Hill DJ, Hudson IL, Sheffield LJ, Shelton MJ, Menahem S, and Hosking CS. 1995. A low allergen diet is a significant intervention in infantile colic: Results of a community-based study. J. Allergy Clin Immunol. 96: 886-892.

Lindberg T. 1999. Infantile colic and small intestinal function: a nutritional problem? Acta Paediatr Suppl. 88(430):58-60.

Lothe L, Lindberg T, and Jakobsson I. 1982. Cow's milk formula as a cause of infantile colic: a double-blind study. Pediatrics. 70(1):7-10.

Lothe L, Ivarson A, Lindberg T. 1987. Motilin, vasoactive intestinal peptide and gastrin in infantile colic. Act Paediatr. Scand. 76: 316-320.

Lothe LI, Ivarson S-A, Ekman R, Lindberg T. 1990. Motilin and infantile colic. Acta Paediatr Scand 79: 410-416.

Lucassen PL, Assendelft WJ, Gubbels JW, van Eijk JT, van Geldrop WJ, Neven AK. 1998. Effectiveness of treatments for infantile colic: systematic review. BMJ. 316(7144):1563-9.

Lucassen PLBJ, Willem JJ, Gubbels JW, van Eijk JThM, and Douwes AC. 2000. Infantile colic: Crying time reduction with a whey hydrolysate: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Pediatrics 106(6): 1349-1354.

Maxted AE, Dickstein S, Miller-Loncar C, High P, Spritz B, Liu J, and Lester BM. 2005. Infant colic and maternal depression. Infant Mental Health Journal 26: 56-68.

Murray L and Cooper PJ (eds). 1997. Postpartum depression and child development. NY: Guilford Press.

Rautava P, Helenius H, Lehtonen L. 1993. Psychosocial predisposing factors for infantile colic. BMJ. 307(6904):600-4.

Rhoads JM, Fatheree NY, Norori J, Liu Y, Lucke JF, Tyson JE, and Ferris MJ. 2009. Altered Fecal Microflora and Increased Fecal Calprotectin in Infants with Colic. J Pediatr.

Savino F, Castagno E, Bretto R, Brondello C, Palumeri E, Oggero R. 2005. A prospective 10-year study on children who had severe infantile colic. Acta Paediatr Suppl. 94(449):129-32.

Savino F, Cordisco L, Tarasco V, Calabrese R, Palumeri E, and Matteuzzi D. 2009. Molecular identification of coliform bacteria from colicky breastfed infants. Acta Paediatr. [Epub ahead of print].

Savino F, Grassino EC, Guidi C, Oggero R, Silvestro L, and Miniero R. 2006. Ghrelin and motilin concentration in colicky infants. Acta Paediatr. 95(6):738-41.

Savino F, Pelle E, Palumeri E, Oggero R, and Miniero R. 2007. Lactobacillus reuteri (American Type Culture Collection Strain 55730) versus simethicone in the treatment of infantile colic: a prospective randomized study. Pediatrics. 119(1):e124-30

Sijmen AR, Brugman E and Hiraing RA. 2001. Excessive infant crying: The impact of varying definitions. Pediatrics 108: 893-897.

Soltis J. 2004. The signal functions of early infant crying. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 27:443-490.

St James-Roberts I, Goodwin J, Peter B, Adams D, and Hunt S. 2003. Individual differences in responsivity to a neurobehavioural examination predict crying patterns of 1-week-old infants at home Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 45(6):400-407.

St James-Roberts I, Alvarez M, Csipke E, Abramsky T, Goodwin J, and Sorgenfrei E. 2006. Infant crying and sleeping in London, Copenhagen and when parents adopt a "proximal" form of care. Pediatrics. 117(6):e1146-55.

St James-Roberts I, Hurry J, Bowyer J, and Barr RG. 1995. Supplementary carrying compared with advice to increase responsive parenting as interventions to prevent persistent infant crying. Pediatrics. 95(3):381-8.

Vik T, Grote V, Escribano J, Socha J, Verduci E, Fritsch M, Carlier C, von Kries R, Koletzko B and the European Childhood Obesity Trial Study Group. 2009. Infantile colic, prolonged crying and maternal postnatal depression. Acta Paediatr. 98(8):1344-8.