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Efficacy of Oral Psyllium in Pediatric Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Double-Blind Randomized Control Trial

Jagadeesh Menon1, Babu Ram Thapa1, Rajni Kumari2

  • 1From the Division of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India.

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|September 22, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Psyllium husk effectively treats pediatric irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in children. This randomized controlled trial showed significant symptom reduction and remission rates compared to placebo over four weeks.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Clinical Trials

Background:

  • Pediatric irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder.
  • Current therapeutic options for pediatric IBS show variable efficacy.
  • Psyllium's effectiveness is established in adults, but data in children is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of psyllium husk compared to placebo in pediatric IBS patients.
  • To assess symptom severity and remission rates in children with IBS receiving psyllium.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind randomized controlled trial involving 81 children (43 psyllium, 38 placebo).
  • Treatment duration was four weeks, with severity assessed using the IBS Severity Scoring Scale (IBS-SSS).
  • Statistical analysis included chi-square and McNemar tests for categorical data.

Main Results:

  • Significant reduction in median IBS-SSS scores in the psyllium group compared to placebo (P < 0.001).
  • Remission rates (IBS-SSS < 75) were higher in the psyllium group (43.9%) versus placebo (9.7%) (P < 0.0001).
  • Absolute risk reduction was 32% with a Number Needed to Treat (NNT) of 3.

Conclusions:

  • Psyllium husk demonstrates short-term efficacy in treating pediatric IBS.
  • The findings support psyllium as a therapeutic option for children with IBS.
  • Further research may explore long-term effects and optimal dosing.
Abstract

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