Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for the Management of Functional Abdominal Pain in Childhood: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Zvi Weizman; Jaber Abu-Abed; Mauricio Binsztok

doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.04.003

Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for the Management of Functional Abdominal Pain in Childhood: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

J Pediatr. 2016 Jul:174:160-164.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.04.003. Epub 2016 May 4.

Authors

Zvi Weizman¹, Jaber Abu-Abed², Mauricio Binsztok²

Affiliations

¹ Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, Soroka Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel. Electronic address: wzvi@bgu.ac.il.
² Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, Soroka Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel.

PMID: 27156182
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.04.003

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether administration of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 is beneficial in functional abdominal pain (FAP) of childhood.

Study design: A total of 101 children, aged 6-15 years, who fulfilled the Rome III criteria for FAP were enrolled in a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, and were randomly assigned to receive either L reuteri DSM 17938 or placebo for 4 weeks, with further follow-up of additional 4 weeks. Response to therapy was based on a self-reported daily questionnaire monitoring frequency and intensity of abdominal pain, using the faces scoring system by Hicks.

Results: L reuteri (n = 47) was significantly superior to placebo (n = 46) in relieving frequency (1.9 ± 0.8 vs 3.6 ± 1.7 episodes/wk, P < .02) and intensity (4.3 ± 2.2 vs 7.2 ± 3.1 Hicks score/wk, P < .01) of abdominal pain following 4 weeks of supplementation. There was no difference in school absenteeism rate or other gastrointestinal symptoms, except for a lower incidence of perceived abdominal distention and bloating, favoring L reuteri.

Conclusions: L reuteri DSM 17938, compared with placebo, significantly reduced the frequency and intensity of FAP in children.

Trial registration: ClicalTrials.gov: NCT01180556.

Keywords: microbiota; probiotics.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Abdominal Pain / diagnosis
Abdominal Pain / drug therapy*
Abdominal Pain / etiology
Absenteeism
Adolescent
Child
Double-Blind Method
Female
Gastrointestinal Diseases / complications
Gastrointestinal Diseases / diagnosis
Gastrointestinal Diseases / drug therapy*
Humans
Limosilactobacillus reuteri*
Male
Pain Measurement
Probiotics / therapeutic use*
Prospective Studies
Self Report
Treatment Outcome

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01180556