A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to investigate the quantity and quality of the current evidence regarding the effect of different probiotic strains in the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) in children and adolescents.
Conclusion: Probiotics are more effective than placebo in the treatment of patients with abdominal pain-related FGID, especially with respect to patients with irritable bowel syndrome. To date, however, probiotics have not proved effective for children with functional constipation.
Keywords: Children; Constipation; Functional abdominal pain; Functional gastrointestinal disorders; Probiotic.
©2013 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.