Editing Openai/69729ae6-bd00-8005-8892-1acd564602bd (section)

===== 1. BioGaia Protectis Baby Drops (BioGaia AB / also marketed as Gerber Soothe): L. reuteri DSM 17938 =====

Strain & Product: Contains Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (formerly Lactobacillus reuteri), a human breastmilk-derived probiotic. BioGaia AB manufactures it as “Protectis” drops; in some markets it’s sold by Nestlé/Gerber as “Soothe” Colic Drops.
Clinical Evidence: L. reuteri DSM 17938 is the most studied probiotic for colic. An individual-participant meta-analysis of 4 trials (345 infants) found this strain significantly increased colic “treatment success” (≥50% reduction in crying time) compared to placebopubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29279326/#:~:text=Results%3A%20%20Four%20double,fed%20infants|publisher=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>. By day 21, probiotic-treated infants cried ~25–30 minutes less per day than controls (mean difference –25.4 minutes)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29279326/#:~:text=Results%3A%20%20Four%20double,fed%20infants|publisher=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>. The benefit was dramatic in breastfed infants – number needed to treat ~3 – whereas efficacy in formula-fed infants remains inconclusivepubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29279326/#:~:text=interval%20%28CI%29%3A%20,fed%20infants|publisher=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29279326/#:~:text=Conclusions%3A%20%20L%20reuteri%20DSM17938,with%20colic%20needs%20further%20research|publisher=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>. Based on this evidence, L. reuteri DSM 17938 is recommended in clinical guidelines (e.g. ESPGHAN) for managing infantile coliclink.springer.com<ref>{{cite web|title=link.springer.com|url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00431-024-05806-x#:~:text=,In%20this|publisher=link.springer.com|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>. Multiple double-blind RCTs (in Italy, Poland, Canada, etc.) consistently report ~50% reductions in daily crying/fussing by week 3 in the L. reuteri groupwww1.racgp.org.au<ref>{{cite web|title=www1.racgp.org.au|url=https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2022/august/probiotics-for-infantile-colic#:~:text=L,174|publisher=www1.racgp.org.au|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>www1.racgp.org.au<ref>{{cite web|title=www1.racgp.org.au|url=https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2022/august/probiotics-for-infantile-colic#:~:text=group,fed%20infants%20with%20colic.1%E2%80%934%2C6%2C7%2C11%E2%80%9313%2C19%2C20|publisher=www1.racgp.org.au|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>. Notably, no significant adverse effects have been linked to this probiotic in infantswww1.racgp.org.au<ref>{{cite web|title=www1.racgp.org.au|url=https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2022/august/probiotics-for-infantile-colic#:~:text=and%20efficacy.,18|publisher=www1.racgp.org.au|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>www1.racgp.org.au<ref>{{cite web|title=www1.racgp.org.au|url=https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2022/august/probiotics-for-infantile-colic#:~:text=The%20evidence%20found%20on%20Lactobacillus,1%E2%80%935%2C11%2C12|publisher=www1.racgp.org.au|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>.
Delivery Form: Oil-based drops (5 drops once daily, providing at least 100 million CFU of L. reuteri DSM 17938)biogaia.com<ref>{{cite web|title=biogaia.com|url=https://www.biogaia.com/products/protectis-baby-drops-vitamin-d?srsltid=AfmBOoohVLeiU6pBlY6pVFv2WfKjiztpDxTwk0Yha4WC4b-34bqklFcJ#:~:text=BioGaia%20Protectis%C2%AE%20BABY%20with%20Vitamin,and%20fussing%20in%20colicky%20infants|publisher=biogaia.com|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>biogaia.com<ref>{{cite web|title=biogaia.com|url=https://www.biogaia.com/products/protectis-baby-drops-vitamin-d?srsltid=AfmBOoohVLeiU6pBlY6pVFv2WfKjiztpDxTwk0Yha4WC4b-34bqklFcJ#:~:text=Just%205%20drops%20daily%20contain,and%20fussing%20in%20colicky%20infants|publisher=biogaia.com|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>. The drops can be given on a spoon, in expressed breast milk, or formula (avoid adding to hot liquids which could inactivate the probiotic).
Age Range: Labeled safe from birth (0+ months). According to the manufacturer, BioGaia drops are safe to start from the first day of life in full-term infantsbiogaia.com<ref>{{cite web|title=biogaia.com|url=https://www.biogaia.com/pages/faq?srsltid=AfmBOopn7Ai3s11vAYgt4xTGUY94C3YYHbDaqqMB4-RM0EBn1flFfkdN#:~:text=At%20what%20age%20can%20my,baby%20take%20BioGaia%20Baby%20Drops|publisher=biogaia.com|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>. Clinical trials have enrolled colicky infants as young as 2 weeks old up to ~3–5 monthslink.springer.com<ref>{{cite web|title=link.springer.com|url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00431-024-05806-x#:~:text=Otherwise%20healthy%20infants%20aged%202,were%20allowed|publisher=link.springer.com|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>, covering the typical age range of colic. Pediatricians often recommend using L. reuteri drops daily until ~4–6 months of age (when colic usually resolves)biogaia.com<ref>{{cite web|title=biogaia.com|url=https://www.biogaia.com/products/protectis-baby-drops?srsltid=AfmBOorNA7Yad0hPTix31Li7oBUbptfS0jCQWsZ8lRTGZiFSoTn7oGun#:~:text=Our%20pediatrician%20recommended%20BioGaia%20up,I%27ve%20definitely%20noticed%20a|publisher=biogaia.com|access-date=2026-01-23}}</ref>.