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Published on: January 27, 2019
A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of Lactobacillus GG for abdominal pain disorders in children
A Gawrońska1, P Dziechciarz, A Horvath
1Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, The Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Insights
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) shows promise in treating functional abdominal pain disorders in children, especially those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This probiotic moderately increased treatment success rates in a randomized controlled trial.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Microbiome Research
- Clinical Trial Analysis
Background:
- Functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPD) are prevalent in school-aged children.
- Current treatments for FAPD lack consistent efficacy.
- Identifying effective interventions for pediatric FAPD is a significant clinical need.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) as a treatment for FAPD in children.
- To compare LGG intervention against a placebo in a pediatric population diagnosed with FAPD.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 104 children meeting Rome II criteria for FAPD (FD, IBS, or FAP).
- Participants were randomized to receive either LGG (n=52) or a placebo (n=52) for a duration of 4 weeks.
- Treatment success was defined as the absence of pain.
Main Results:
- Overall, 25% of children receiving LGG achieved treatment success compared to 9.6% in the placebo group (RB 2.6, NNT 7).
- In the subgroup of children with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), LGG significantly improved treatment success (33% vs. 5%, RB 6.3, NNT 4) and reduced pain frequency.
- No significant differences in treatment success were observed for children with Functional Dyspepsia (FD) or Functional Abdominal Pain (FAP).
Conclusions:
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) demonstrates a moderate benefit in improving treatment success for children with FAPD.
- LGG is particularly effective for children diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), improving pain outcomes.
- Further research may explore LGG's role in specific pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders.
Background:
Functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPD) are common in school-aged children; however, there is no reliable treatment.
Aim:
To determine the efficacy of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) for treating FAPD in children.
Methods:
A total of 104 children who fulfilled the Rome II criteria for functional dyspepsia (FD), or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or functional abdominal pain (FAP) were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial in which they received LGG (n = 52), or placebo (n = 52) for 4 weeks.
Results:
For the overall study population, those in the LGG group were more likely to have treatment success (no pain) than those in the placebo group (25% vs. 9.6%, relative benefit (RB) 2.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05-6.6, number needed to treat (NNT) 7, 95% CI: 4-123). For children with IBS (n = 37), those in the LGG group were more likely to have treatment success than those in the placebo group (33% vs. 5%, RB 6.3, 95% CI: 1.2-38, NNT 4, 95% CI: 2-36) and reduced frequency of pain (P = 0.02), but not pain severity (P = 0.10). For the FD group (n = 20) and FAP group (n = 47), no differences were found.
Conclusion:
The LGG appears to moderately increase treatment success, particularly among children with IBS.
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