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Meta-analysis: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG for abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorders in

A Horvath1, P Dziechciarz, H Szajewska

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, The Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|April 22, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) moderately improves treatment success for children with functional gastrointestinal disorders. This probiotic is particularly effective for children diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Microbiome Research
  • Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Background:

  • Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children lack effective treatments.
  • Interest is growing in novel therapeutic approaches for these conditions.
  • Abdominal pain is a primary symptom in pediatric FGIDs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically evaluate the efficacy of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) for treating abdominal pain-related FGIDs in children.
  • To synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on LGG supplementation.
  • To assess the impact of LGG on pain reduction and treatment response.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature search across major databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library) and trial registries.
  • Inclusion of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) meeting Rome II or Rome III criteria for pediatric FGIDs.
  • Assessment of risk of bias in included RCTs, focusing on sequence generation, allocation concealment, blinding, and follow-up.

Main Results:

  • LGG supplementation significantly increased treatment responder rates in the overall FGID population (RR 1.31) and the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) subgroup (RR 1.70).
  • A notable reduction in pain intensity was observed in the overall population and the IBS subgroup.
  • No significant difference in treatment response was found for children with functional abdominal pain or functional dyspepsia.

Conclusions:

  • Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG demonstrates a moderate increase in treatment success for pediatric abdominal pain-related FGIDs.
  • LGG is particularly beneficial for children diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
  • Further research may explore specific FGID subtypes where LGG efficacy varies.
Abstract

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