title: Probiotic for irritable bowel syndrome in pediatric patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder in children. Recently, probiotics have been suggested as a treatment option for gastrointestinal disorders. The most effective species and the most appropriate doses are still unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Lactobacillus GG (LGG) for treating IBS in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a controlled, double blind, randomized trial, patients with IBS diagnosed by Rome III criteria from August 2012 to September 2012 at Dr. Sheikh Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, were assigned to one of two groups, i.e., intervention and control groups. For four weeks, the intervention group received a probiotic in capsule form that contained LGG at a concentration of 1×10(10) cfu/ml bacteria. For the same period, the control group received a placebo capsule that had the same shape and color but only contained inulin, which also was present in the LGG capsules. The primary outcome was any change in the severity of the patients' pain, and we used a five-point Likert scale to evaluate the severity of their pain. Secondary outcomes were ghanges of the functional scale, stool patterns, and associated problems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two patients participated in the study, and 26 patients were assigned randomly to each of the two groups. The severity of the patients' pain decreased significantly in the intervention group after one, two, three, and four weeks of treatment, as indicated by P-values of 0.01, 0.00, 0.00, and 0.00, respectively. Also, there was significant improvement in the functional scale after two weeks of treatment (P-value ≤ 0.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lactobacillus GG at a concentration of 1×10(10) cfu/ml for a period of four weeks can lessen the severity of the patients' pain and improve the functional scale in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Probiotics can have therapeutic effects for IBS patients.
authors.affiliation: MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kianifar
authors.affiliation: MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.affiliation: MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiani
authors.affiliation: MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Immunology and Allergy, Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahanchian
authors.affiliation: MD, Pediatrician, Department of Pediatrics, Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Vahid
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Ghasemi
authors.affiliation: MD, Associate Professor, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Zubin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.affiliation: Ph.D., Faculty Member, Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Leili Zarif
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Mahmoodi
authors.affiliation: MD, Faculty Member, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bagherian
authors.affiliation: MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalesi
keywords: children; irritable bowel syndrome; probiotics