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Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and a placebo both significantly reduced symptoms in children with functional abdominal pain.

  • 2017-08-22
  • Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) 106(11)
    • M Maragkoudaki
    • G Chouliaras
    • R Orel
    • A Horvath
    • H Szajewska
    • A Papadopoulou

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 54
Population
54 children with functional abdominal pain
Methods
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 4 weeks of 2×10^8 CFU/day L. reuteri DSM 17938 or placebo
Duration
4 weeks
Funding
Unclear

Aim

Lactobacillus reuteri is a Gram-positive bacterium that naturally inhabits the human intestinal tract. This study assessed how effectively the probiotic L. reuteri DSM 17938 managed childhood functional abdominal pain (FAP).

Methods

We recruited 54 children with a mean age 9.1 ± 3.8 years, who were diagnosed with FAP in the outpatient clinics of three university hospitals in Greece, Slovenia and Poland, according to the Rome III criteria, from January 2013 to December 2015. They were randomly assigned to receive either 2 × 108 colony-forming units of L. reuteri (n = 27) or a placebo (n = 27) for four weeks.

Results

Both L. reuteri and the placebo significantly reduced the frequency and intensity of abdominal pain episodes at four and eight weeks compared to baseline (all p < 0.001). L. reuteri decreased the use of pain relieving drugs at four weeks and the number of child school and adult work absences at four and eight weeks, unlike the placebo, which achieved nonsignificant results. However, the difference between the groups did not reach significance. No side effects were recorded.

Conclusion

Both L. reuteri and the placebo were effective in alleviating pain in children with FAP, but only L. reuteri improved the child's and family's normal activities.

Research Insights

  • Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938→Reduced Abdominal Pain

    Both L. reuteri and the placebo significantly reduced the frequency and intensity of abdominal pain episodes at four and eight weeks compared to baseline (all p < 0.001).

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    2 × 10^8 colony-forming units (CFU)
  • Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938→Reduced Child School Absences

    L. reuteri decreased the use of pain relieving drugs at four weeks and the number of child school and adult work absences at four and eight weeks, unlike the placebo, which achieved nonsignificant results.

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    2 × 10^8 colony-forming units (CFU)
  • Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938→Reduced Pain Medication Use

    L. reuteri decreased the use of pain relieving drugs at four weeks and the number of child school and adult work absences at four and eight weeks, unlike the placebo, which achieved nonsignificant results.

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    2 × 10^8 colony-forming units (CFU)
  • Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938→Reduced Use of Pain Relieving Drugs

    L. reuteri decreased the use of pain relieving drugs at four weeks… unlike the placebo, which achieved nonsignificant results. However, the difference between the groups did not reach significance.

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    2 × 10^8 colony-forming units
  • Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938→Reduced Work Absence

    L. reuteri decreased the use of pain relieving drugs at four weeks and the number of child school and adult work absences at four and eight weeks, unlike the placebo, which achieved nonsignificant results.

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    2 × 10^8 colony-forming units (CFU)

Adverse Events Reported

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