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Published on: January 27, 2019

Probiotic treatment of irritable bowel syndrome in children

U Martens1, P Enck, E Zieseniss

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Germany.

German Medical Science : GMS E-Journal
|March 18, 2010
PubMed

Insights

This study shows that Symbioflor 2 (SF2), a probiotic, effectively and safely treats irritable bowel-type symptoms (IBS) in children. The treatment significantly improved abdominal pain and stool frequency with no adverse events reported.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Microbiology
  • Clinical Therapeutics

Background:

  • Irritable bowel-type symptoms (IBS) in children present a therapeutic challenge due to limited options with favorable safety profiles.
  • Existing treatments for pediatric IBS often have drawbacks, necessitating research into novel interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of Symbioflor 2 (SF2) in treating functional bowel disorders of the IBS type in a pediatric population.
  • To assess the impact of SF2 on key IBS symptoms including abdominal pain and altered stool frequency.

Main Methods:

  • A treatment study involving 203 children (ages 4-18) diagnosed with IBS, categorized by predominant symptoms (diarrhea, constipation, alternating, or unspecific pain).
  • Patients received varying daily doses of Symbioflor 2 (SF2), a probiotic containing Escherichia coli bacteria, for an average of 43 days.
  • Dosage was adjusted based on age, with most younger children receiving 10 drops daily.

Main Results:

  • Symbioflor 2 (SF2) was well-tolerated by all pediatric participants, with no adverse events observed.
  • Significant improvements were noted in core IBS symptoms such as abdominal pain and stool frequency.
  • Other associated symptoms like bloating, straining, and urge to defecate also showed marked improvement.

Conclusions:

  • Symbioflor 2 (SF2) demonstrates significant efficacy and excellent tolerability for treating IBS in children and adolescents.
  • These findings support the use of this probiotic compound as a valuable therapeutic option for pediatric IBS, complementing existing adult data.
Abstract

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