Original ArticleThe Use of Lactobacillus GG in Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Children: A Double-blind Randomized Control Trial
Section snippets
Methods
Sixty-four children (12 male and 52 female) were enrolled in this controlled, double-blind, randomized study from the Children's Medical Center Pediatric Gastroenterology outpatient clinic between July 2003 and June 2004 (Figure). Mean patient age was 12 years, with a range of 6 to 20 years. All children had a previous evaluation by a pediatric gastroenterologist, who made the diagnosis of IBS and excluded organic disease as a cause of abdominal pain. Testing for organic disease was performed
Results
Six patients withdrew from the study after randomization before beginning treatment (Figure). Reasons given for discontinuation included lack of time for daily record keeping, preference for other therapy, and desire not to participate. Twenty-eight patients were randomized into the placebo group and began treatment. Three of these patients were lost to follow-up. Of the 30 patients in the Lactobacillus GG group, 3 patients were lost to follow-up. Two children were excluded from the analysis
Discussion
The etiology of IBS remains largely unknown, and the range of symptoms associated with this syndrome seems to indicate a multitude of etiologic influences, including psychosocial factors, altered GI motility, heightened sensory function of the intestine, and malfermentation of food residues.15 Insults to the intestinal microflora have been implicated in the pathogenesis of IBS. Antibiotic use is the most likely cause of disruption of normal microflora,16 and studies have linked antibiotic use
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Supported by a Wright State University School of Medicine seed grant.