In a recent study (O Jadresin et al. JPGN 2017; 64: 925-9), 55 children with functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome were randomized (prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study) to either L reuteri DSM or placebo.
Key findings:
- The intervention group had more days without pain: median 89.5 days vs. 51 days (P=.029)
- Abdominal pain was less severe in the intervention group at some time points (second month, and fourth month)
- The two groups did not differ with regard to duration of abdominal pain, stool type, or absence from school
Limitation: Small number of patients -the estimated samples size was not reached
My take: This study suggests that probiotics may help some pediatric patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Trying to identify which patients should receive a probiotic and which probiotic should be selected remains unclear.
Related blog posts:
- Mechanisms of irritable bowel syndrome | gutsandgrowth
- The Truth about Probiotics -Constipation Version
- Balanced summary of probiotics & Microbiome effects on brain
- Probiotics for Crohn’s Disease –No Beneficial Effects Noted | gutsandgrowth
- Probiotics For Fatty Liver Disease | gutsandgrowth
- “Low quality of evidence; strong recommendation” for Probiotics in Gastroenteritis
- Probiotics for Colic
Pierre Renoir’s portrait of Claude Monet, Musee d’Orsay
gutsandgrowth 