title: Lactobacillus reuteri in children with functional abdominal pain (FAP).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Functional abdominal pain (FAP) is a frequent condition affecting 10-20% of children and can be considered within the classification of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). The objective of this study was to determine the effect of daily supplementation with the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in children with FAP.
  
  
  METHODS
  The children (aged 6-16 years) were screened for FAP as defined in the Rome III criteria and 60 patients were recruited in this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. The children were randomly allocated to receive either L. reuteri (2×10(8)  CFU/day) or identical placebo for 4 weeks followed by a 4-week follow-up period without supplementation. Frequency and intensity of pain was self-recorded by the subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The L. reuteri-supplemented children had significantly lower pain intensity compared with the placebo controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation with L. reuteri reduced perceived abdominal pain intensity, which may encourage clinicians to use this probiotic in children with FAP.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department, University of Messina, Messina, Children's Hospital G. Di Cristina, Palermo, Pediatric Department, University of Catania, Catania and Pediatric Unit, Vittoria Hospital, Vittoria, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ferrau'
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavataio
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spina
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lionetti
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Comisi
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Famiani
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Comito
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D052200:Limosilactobacillus reuteri; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome