Parental Opinion about the Low FODMAP Diet in Dietary Treatment of Children with Functional Abdominal Pain.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare parental opinions and symptom changes in children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) between a low-FODMAP diet and a NICE-based diet, and to assess agreement between parental and child symptom assessments.
Results Summary
The low-FODMAP diet was perceived as more difficult to follow (38% vs. 57% in the NICE group) but showed similar symptom improvement. High agreement was observed between parental and child assessments of abdominal pain intensity and frequency.
Population
27 children with diagnosed functional abdominal pain (FAP).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) diet | decrease | ease of following the diet | parents of children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) | 38% | significantly lower percentage of parents declared that it was easy to follow | #1 |
diet based on National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines | increase | ease of following the diet | parents of children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) | 57% | declared that it was easy to follow | #2 |
low FODMAP diet | decrease | all symptoms of children | children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) | high percentage | high percentage of parents reported improvement | #3 |
diet based on NICE guidelines | decrease | all symptoms of children | children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) | high percentage | high percentage of parents reported improvement | #4 |
low FODMAP diet | no change | abdominal pain intensity and frequency assessments | children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) and their parents | high level | high level of agreement was observed | #5 |
diet based on NICE guidelines | no change | abdominal pain intensity and frequency assessments | children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) and their parents | high level | high level of agreement was observed | #6 |
low FODMAP diet | decrease | symptoms of functional abdominal pain (FAP) | children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) | - | as effective as | #7 |
low FODMAP diet | decrease | diet adherence | children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) | - | may seem more difficult to follow | #8 |
The aim of this study was primarily to evaluate differences between parental opinion about the diet and overall changes in children's symptoms of functional abdominal pain (FAP) during the low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) diet and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) diet. Secondly, this paper examined the agreement between parental perception of children's symptoms and children's self-assessment of symptoms during the diet in both treatment groups. Twenty-seven children with diagnosed functional abdominal pain (FAP) were randomized to one of two group, receiving the low FODMAP diet or the diet based on NICE guidelines. Children reported gastrointestinal symptoms at baseline and during the diet. At the end of the intervention, parents assessed their children's diet and symptoms changes, using Likert scales. The agreement between parental and children assessments of gastrointestinal symptoms was defined as the percentage of compatible answers. In the low FODMAP group a significantly lower percentage of parents (38%) declared that it was easy to follow the diet, compared to the NICE group (57%), (p = 0.017). A high percentage of parents in both groups reported improvement in all symptoms of children during dietary intervention. A high level of agreement was also observed between parental and children's self-assessment of abdominal pain intensity and frequency. Our research suggests that in parental opinion the low FODMAP diet is as effective as the diet based on NICE guidelines in children with FAP. However, the low FODMAP diet may seem more difficult to follow, and this may have had an impact on the effectiveness and acceptability of the FODMAP diet by children.