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Ability of polymicrobial probiotic and mono-strain probiotic to reduce functional abdominal pain in children: a

Seyed Sajad Jafari1, Seyed Mojtaba Hashemi2, Bahman Sadeghi3

  • 1Student Research Committee, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.

Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
|December 2, 2022
PubMed

Insights

A polymicrobial probiotic (PMP) showed promise in reducing functional abdominal pain (FAP) in children, with more children experiencing no pain compared to a mono-strain probiotic (MSP). Both probiotics reduced pain over time.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Microbiome Research
  • Clinical Nutrition

Background:

  • Chronic abdominal pain affects a significant number of children.
  • Functional abdominal pain (FAP) is a prevalent condition in pediatric populations.
  • Probiotics are increasingly recognized for their potential therapeutic benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the efficacy of a polymicrobial probiotic (PMP) versus a mono-strain probiotic (MSP) in alleviating FAP in children.
  • To assess the impact of two different probiotic formulations on symptom severity and pain reduction in pediatric FAP.
  • To investigate the role of probiotics in managing chronic abdominal pain in children.

Main Methods:

  • An open-label randomized clinical trial involving 116 children (aged 5-15) diagnosed with FAP according to ROME-4 criteria.
  • Participants were randomized to receive either PMP or MSP daily for 4 weeks.
  • Symptom severity was evaluated using the Wong-Baker Faces pain scale.

Main Results:

  • A statistically significant difference in pain severity was observed between groups (P=0.003), with 10.34% of children in the PMP group reporting no pain, compared to none in the MSP group.
  • While no significant intergroup difference in mean pain score was found (P=0.466), pain scores decreased significantly over the 4-week study period in both groups (P=0.001).
  • The study included a balanced gender distribution (53.5% boys) with a mean age of 7.39 years.

Conclusions:

  • The polymicrobial probiotic (PMP) demonstrated a greater ability to render children pain-free compared to the mono-strain probiotic (MSP).
  • Symptom severity, measured by pain scores, decreased in both probiotic groups, indicating a general therapeutic effect.
  • Further research, including a placebo-controlled arm, is recommended to validate these findings and establish definitive efficacy.
Abstract

Keywords:
ChildFunctional abdominal painPainPediatricProbiotic

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