The effect of two types of minimal acupuncture on stooling, sleeping and feeding in infants with colic: secondary analysis of a multicentre RCT in Sweden (ACU-COL)

Landgren K, Hallström I, Tiberg I · Acupuncture in Medicine · 2020 May 06

DOI 10.1177/0964528420920308

Objective

To investigate the effects of standardized minimal acupuncture and individualized acupuncture compared with no acupuncture on stooling, feeding, and sleeping in infants with colic.

Conclusions

The study found no differences between acupuncture and no-acupuncture groups in objective measures of stooling, feeding, or sleeping, although more parents receiving acupuncture perceived improvements in feeding, sleep, and colic symptoms.

Critical Appraisal

Published research can offer valuable insights, but a paper’s conclusions may go beyond what its results support. Critical appraisal examines the methods, findings and limitations to clarify what can reasonably be concluded—and what remains uncertain.

This article has not yet been critically appraised by the Research Hub.

Learn more about Critical Appraisal

Insights

Acupuncture did not objectively alter infants’ feeding, sleep, or bowel habits, but parents perceived greater improvement in colic-related symptoms.

This secondary analysis used data from a multicentre randomized controlled trial in Sweden involving infants with colic. Infants were assigned to brief standardized acupuncture, individualized acupuncture selected according to symptoms, or no acupuncture, while parents and routine healthcare staff were unaware of group allocation. Parents recorded stooling, feeding, and sleep in diaries throughout treatment and follow-up, and completed questionnaires about perceived changes. Diary records showed no differences among the groups in bowel movements, feeding, or sleep. However, parents of infants receiving either acupuncture approach were more likely to report improvements in feeding, sleep, and overall colic symptoms than parents of infants who received no acupuncture.