Best Supplements for Reduced Abdominal Pain
Ranked by research evidence. Compare 48 supplements across 80 papers from the biomedical literature, with effect direction, evidence strength, and dose range for each.
Top picks by evidence
- Moderate evidence13 studies
Across 13 studies, 11 reported beneficial effects of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 on reducing abdominal pain, with effect sizes predominantly small to moderate. The most commonly studied dose was 10^8 CFU/day, and the median study duration across 5 reporting studies was 56 days (8 weeks). Effects were observed primarily in pediatric clinical populations, including children with functional abdominal pain and infants with colic.
Dose: 10^8 CFU/dayProduct matchBioGaia — Kids, Immune Active with L. Reuteri + Vitamin D, Orange· $26.99 · ★4.8 (510) - Moderate evidence6 studies
Across 6 studies, 5 reported beneficial effects on abdominal pain, with effect sizes ranging from small to large. Most evidence comes from clinical populations with Helicobacter pylori infection, and the median study duration was 29 days. The predominant effect direction is beneficial, with effect sizes being mixed (small to large) across studies.
- Moderate evidence4 studies
Across all 4 studies, peppermint consistently showed beneficial effects on reducing abdominal pain, with moderate effect sizes reported in the highest-quality studies. The strongest evidence comes from a 2022 meta-analysis of 10 RCTs in 1030 IBS patients (RR = 0.76; NNT = 7). The evidence base is small and predominantly from clinical populations, with no consistent dose, form, or duration data available.
- ModerateLactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938Across 13 studies, 11 reported beneficial effects of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 on reducing abdominal pain, with effect sizes predominantly small to moderate. The most commonly studied dose was 10^8 CFU/day, and the median study duration across 5 reporting studies was 56 days (8 weeks). Effects were observed primarily in pediatric clinical populations, including children with functional abdominal pain and infants with colic. · Dose: 10^8 CFU/day11 beneficial2 neutral13 studies
- Moderatesaccharomyces boulardiiAcross 6 studies, 5 reported beneficial effects on abdominal pain, with effect sizes ranging from small to large. Most evidence comes from clinical populations with Helicobacter pylori infection, and the median study duration was 29 days. The predominant effect direction is beneficial, with effect sizes being mixed (small to large) across studies.5 beneficial1 neutral6 studies
- ModeratePeppermintAcross all 4 studies, peppermint consistently showed beneficial effects on reducing abdominal pain, with moderate effect sizes reported in the highest-quality studies. The strongest evidence comes from a 2022 meta-analysis of 10 RCTs in 1030 IBS patients (RR = 0.76; NNT = 7). The evidence base is small and predominantly from clinical populations, with no consistent dose, form, or duration data available.4 beneficial4 studies
- LowLactobacillus plantarum 299vAcross 4 studies, 3 reported beneficial effects of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v on reducing abdominal pain in IBS patients, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large. One neutral study (n=190) found no significant difference, but the overall evidence leans toward a beneficial effect. Most studies did not specify a dose, but one used 1×10^10 CFU/day; the median study duration was 28 days, though only one study reported this. · Dose: 1×10^10 CFU/day (from one study; no clear convergence across others)3 beneficial1 neutral4 studies
- ModerateLactobacillus gasseri BNR17Across 3 studies, all reported beneficial small-sized effects on reducing abdominal pain in populations with functional constipation, diarrhea-dominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and general IBS. Evidence is from small randomized controlled trials (total n=119), with one study using a high dose of 2 × 5 × 10^9 CFU/day.3 beneficial3 studies
- ModerateBacillus coagulans MTCC 5856Across all 3 studies, Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 consistently showed beneficial effects on reducing abdominal pain, with large effect sizes in 2 studies and a moderate effect in 1. The evidence, which includes a large systematic review (n=9253) and two smaller RCTs in clinical populations (IBS and functional gas/bloating), indicates benefit in adults with digestive complaints. Doses ranged from 2 billion spores/day to 2 × 10^9 CFU/day, though study durations were not consistently reported. · Dose: 2 × 10^9 CFU/day (or 2 billion spores/day)3 beneficial3 studies