title: Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for the Management of Functional Abdominal Pain in Childhood: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.
abstract: To determine whether administration of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 is beneficial in functional abdominal pain (FAP) of childhood.
  
  
  
  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.
  
  
  
  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.
  
  
  
  L reuteri DSM 17938, compared with placebo, significantly reduced the frequency and intensity of FAP in children.
  
  
  
  ClicalTrials.gov: NCT01180556.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, Soroka Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel. Electronic address: wzvi@bgu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Weizman
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, Soroka Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Jaber
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abu-Abed
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, Soroka Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Binsztok
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D052200:Limosilactobacillus reuteri; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: microbiota; probiotics