Background: Considerable increase in gut motility after probiotic supplementations consumption is indicated in recent studies. The present study conducted to clarify whether supplementation with Saccharomyces boulardii can palliate the abdominal pain frequency in children with Functional Abdominal Pain (FAP).
Methods: The present clinical trial was conducted on children referred to the Pediatric Departments of the Emam Khomeini hospital, Ilam, Iran, and Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan, Iran. Finally, patients were randomized to receive either 250 mg oral supplementation with Saccharomyces boulardii supplementation, Zist Thakhmir company, or placebo, twice daily for 3 weeks before the first clinical assessment. The intensity of the symptoms were evaluated using the OUCHER PAIN scale.
Findings: A total of 104 FAP children with a mean age of 9.51±3.52 years enrolled in the study. 52 of them randomly were assigned to the treatment group and 52 patients were assigned to the placebo group. Statistical analysis demonstrated that treatment with Saccharomyces boulardii was effective in the treatment group after the 1st week of study. (P-value=0.001)
Conclusion: To best of our knowledge, our investigation is the first trial which assess a correlation between taking Saccharomyces boulardii and symptoms reduction in FAP children through its probiotic effects. This disorder can be considered as a multifactorial disease which further investigations is needed to figure its risk factors and treatment modalities.