[Implementation of a low FODMAP diet for functional abdominal pain].
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the implementation and outcomes of a low FODMAP diet in treating functional abdominal pain in children from a Mediterranean area.
Results Summary
The study found that after a two-week low FODMAP diet, children showed fewer daily abdominal pain episodes, less pain severity, reduced interference with daily activities, and fewer gastrointestinal symptoms compared to baseline. Only 15% of patients found the diet difficult to follow.
Population
Children with functional abdominal pain from a Mediterranean area.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
2 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
low FODMAP diet | decrease | daily abdominal pain episodes | children with functional abdominal pain | 1.16 [IQR: 0.41-3.33] versus 2 [IQR: 1.33-6.33] daily episodes, P=.024 | showed fewer daily abdominal pain episodes compared to baseline | #1 |
low FODMAP diet | decrease | pain severity | children with functional abdominal pain | 1.41cm [IQR: 0.32-5.23] versus 4.63cm [IQR: 2.51-6.39] measured by 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale, P=.035 | less pain severity compared to baseline | #2 |
low FODMAP diet | decrease | interference with daily activities | children with functional abdominal pain | - | less interference with daily activities | #3 |
low FODMAP diet | decrease | gastrointestinal symptoms | children with functional abdominal pain | - | less gastrointestinal symptoms | #4 |
low FODMAP diet | no change | diet adherence difficulty | patients | 15% | found it difficult to follow | #5 |
low FODMAP diet | decrease | abdominal pain symptoms | Mediterranean paediatric population diagnosed with functional abdominal pain | - | showed an improvement in abdominal pain symptoms | #6 |
INTRODUCTION: The low FODMAP diet (fermentable oligosaccharides, monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polyols) has shown to be effective in adult patients with irritable bowel syndrome, but there are few studies on paediatric patients. The aim of this study is to assess the implementation and the outcomes of a low FODMAP diet in the treatment of functional abdominal pain in children from a Mediterranean area. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A table was designed in which foods were classified according to their FODMAP content, as well as a 'Symptoms and Stools Diary'. A prospective study was conducted on children with functional abdominal pain in our Paediatric Gastroenterology Unit. RESULTS: A total of 22 patients were enrolled in the trial, and 20 completed it. Data were collected of the abdominal pain features over a period of 3 days, and then patients followed a two-week low FODMAP diet. Afterwards, information about abdominal pain features was collected again. After the diet, they showed fewer daily abdominal pain episodes compared to baseline (1.16 [IQR: 0.41-3.33] versus 2 [IQR: 1.33-6.33] daily episodes, P=.024), less pain severity compared to baseline (1.41cm [IQR: 0.32-5.23] versus 4.63cm [IQR: 2.51-6.39] measured by 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale, P=.035), less interference with daily activities, and less gastrointestinal symptoms. Only 15% of patients found it difficult to follow the diet. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a low FODMAP diet for 2 weeks in a Mediterranean paediatric population diagnosed with functional abdominal pain is possible with adapted diets. It was highly valued by patients, and they showed an improvement in abdominal pain symptoms assessed by objective methods.