Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41884042›Full record

ArticleWorld journal of clinical pediatrics2026

Effectiveness of the extensively hydrolyzed formulas in the management of infantile colic: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Konstantinos Dodos, Tsampika-Vasileia Kalamara, Stylianos Xinias, Antigoni Mavroudi, Dorothea Kapoukranidou, Antigoni Sarantaki, Athina Diamanti, Vasiliki E Georgakopoulou

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Article in World journal of clinical pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Konstantinos DodosLaboratory of Physiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Kentrikí Makedonía, Greece.
Tsampika-Vasileia KalamaraLaboratory of Physiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Kentrikí Makedonía, Greece.
Stylianos Xinias3 Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54642, Kentrikí Makedonía, Greece.
Antigoni Mavroudi3 Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54642, Kentrikí Makedonía, Greece.
Dorothea KapoukranidouLaboratory of Physiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Kentrikí Makedonía, Greece.
Antigoni SarantakiDepartment of Midwifery, School of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Athens 12243, Attikí, Greece.
Athina DiamantiDepartment of Midwifery, School of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Athens 12243, Attikí, Greece.
Vasiliki E GeorgakopoulouDepartment of Pathophysiology, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece. vaso_georgakopoulou@hotmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInfantile colic (IC) is a common, self-limiting condition marked by excessive, unexplained crying. Evidence on the use of extensively hydrolyzed formulas (eHFs) as a dietary intervention remains fragmented.

aimTo systematically review and meta-analyze the effectiveness of eHFs in managing symptoms of IC.

methodsA comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE, Cochrane and Web of Science databases (1980-2025) identified randomized controlled trials and crossover studies assessing the efficacy of eHF in infants diagnosed with IC based on Wessel's or ROME III criteria. Studies were included if they involved infants ≤ 6 months old on partial or exclusive formula diets, and were excluded if the diagnosis was unclear. Data were synthesized qualitatively and through meta-analysis using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

resultsSix studies met the inclusion criteria, with a total of 340 infants across intervention and comparator arms. In all studies, eHF significantly reduced crying duration and colic symptoms compared to regular formula or dicyclomine. The meta-analysis showed a pooled OR of 4.8 (95%CI: 2.53-9.11,

conclusioneHF appear significantly more effective than standard formulas and pharmacologic comparators in reducing colic-related symptoms. These findings support eHF as a viable dietary intervention for IC, though larger, well-controlled trials are warranted to confirm long-term outcomes.

Indexed as

Cow’s milk protein allergyCrying durationDietary interventionExtensively hydrolyzed formulasFormula-fed infantsInfantile colic

Identifiers

PMID41884042
PMCPMC13010475

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.