title: The role of food intolerance in functional gastrointestinal disorders in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) is a common, benign, chronic diagnosis that has a significant negative impact on quality of life. FGIDs that develop in childhood can persist into adulthood. Currently, there is no cure and few treatment options are available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article provides an outline of current research supporting the role of food intolerance in children with FGIDs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Food intolerances have long been reported by patients with FGIDs; however, randomised controlled trials are lacking in this area. Food intolerances that have been investigated include intolerance to food chemicals, lactose, fructose and, more recently, fer-mentable carbohydrates, termed FODMAPs. The low-FODMAP diet eliminates poorly absorbed short-chain carbohydrates and has a clearly defined mechanism of action. Emerging evidence suggests it alleviates symptoms in adults with irritable bowel syndrome and, potentially, also in children. However, more evidence is required for the efficacy of the diet in children and in oth-er subgroups of FGID. Any dietary restriction in growing children should be undertaken with clinical supervision by a dietitian.
authors.affiliation: MBBS, Paediatric Registrar, University of Queensland, Department of Medicine, Brisbane, QLD.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D005633:Fructose Intolerance / Q000175:diagnosis; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D007787:Lactose Intolerance / Q000175:diagnosis; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*