Childhood constipation is a common problem that affects roughly 10% of all children. It’s worth mentioning that up to 70% of these cases can be linked to milk allergies. The majority of these cases clear up after eliminating cow milk from the diet. There are a few other common causes as well, including low-fiber diets, use of certain medications and many more. There is some evidence that probiotics play an important role in preventing or alleviating constipation and other mild digestive issues.

In a study involving 20 children with an average age of 7.4 years, supplementation with a probiotic for 4 weeks was found to increase the frequency of defecation and stool consistency. This study involved a specific strain known as b. breve. There are a few other strains that have been studied, such as l. plantarum and b. infantis, but in some cases it might be more beneficial to try some good quality probiotic blends.

Baby’s Jarro-Dophilus by Jarrow, and Udo’s Choice Infant’s Probiotic are two great formulas that include most of the strains discussed in this article. There is also a product from Natren called Life Start that is designed for infants and contains only b. infantis. Studies have shown that b. infantis is found in 60% of babies that are born vaginally as opposed to only 9% of those born by caesarean section.

All of these products are available for purchase at Peach Vitamins in Atlanta, Georgia. For questions or comments, please feel free to call us at 404-266-9115, or pay us a visit at 2900 Peachtree Rd Atlanta, GA 30305.