scholarly journals Dietary Carbohydrates and Childhood Functional Abdominal Pain

2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (Suppl. 1) ◽  
pp. 7-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno P. Chumpitazi ◽  
Robert J. Shulman

Childhood functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) affect a large number of children throughout the world. Carbohydrates (which provide the majority of calories consumed in the Western diet) have been implicated both as culprits for the etiology of symptoms and as potential therapeutic agents (e.g., fiber) in childhood FGIDs. In this review, we detail how carbohydrate malabsorption may cause gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., bloating) via the physiologic effects of both increased osmotic activity and increased gas production from bacterial fermentation. Several factors may play a role, including: (1) the amount of carbohydrate ingested; (2) whether ingestion is accompanied by a meal or other food; (3) the rate of gastric emptying (how quickly the meal enters the small intestine); (4) small intestinal transit time (the time it takes for a meal to enter the large intestine after first entering the small intestine); (5) whether the meal contains bacteria with enzymes capable of breaking down the carbohydrate; (6) colonic bacterial adaptation to one's diet, and (7) host factors such as the presence or absence of visceral hypersensitivity. By detailing controlled and uncontrolled trials, we describe how there is a general lack of strong evidence supporting restriction of individual carbohydrates (e.g., lactose, fructose) for childhood FGIDs. We review emerging evidence suggesting that a more comprehensive restriction of fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) may be effective. Finally, we review how soluble fiber (a complex carbohydrate) supplementation via randomized controlled intervention trials in childhood functional gastrointestinal disorders has demonstrated efficacy.

2021 ◽  
pp. 125-132
Author(s):  
Andrey A. Ipatov ◽  
Maria G. Ipatova

Functional gastrointestinal disorders in children are one of the most common reasons why parents visit a pediatrician. Functional gastrointestinal disorders include various persistent combinations of chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms in the absence of any organic pathology in the gastrointestinal tract (structural abnormalities, inflammatory changes, infections, or tumours) and metabolic disturbances. The article presents details on the mechanisms of development, clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria and approaches to the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Clinical manifestations of functional gastrointestinal disorders vary depending on age and characteristics of physical and intellectual development. In more than half of children, they are observed in various combinations, less often as one isolated symptom. The drug therapy should consider the main components of pathogenesis and facilitate the solution of the following issues: improvement of digestion; restoration of intestinal microenvironment and motility; reduction of visceral hypersensitivity. Special attention is paid to the management of motor disorders and restoration of intestinal microenvironment using symbiotics. When choosing a supplement, it is advisable to focus on the composition of probiotic strains, which should comply with the WGO global guidelines (Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, etc.).Prescription of peripheral δ-, μ- и κ-receptor agonists – trimebutine and pre- and probiotics combinations to children with functional gastrointestinal disorders results in decreased signs of functional disorders of the digestive tract. By acting on the enkephalinergic system, trimebutine regulates the bowel activity, improves motility, and reduces visceral hypersensitivity. Trimebutine is included in the Russian guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of functional disorders of the digestive tract in children, as well as in the clinical guidelines for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, and functional abdominal pain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Huang ◽  
Serene Yaling Tan ◽  
Panam Parikh ◽  
Vanitha Buthmanaban ◽  
Shaman Rajindrajith ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children, particularly from Asia, is largely unknown. There are not many studies done in Asia especially using the Rome IV criteria. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of FGIDs in infants and young children in a representative sample in China. Methods A prospective, cross-sectional, community-based survey was conducted among healthy infants and young children between the ages of 0–4 years in Jinhua and Shanghai, China. A total of 2604 subjects (1300 subjects from Jinhua and 1304 subjects from Shanghai) completed a validated questionnaire on pediatric gastrointestinal symptoms. FGIDs in infants and young children were diagnosed using the Rome IV criteria. Results According to the Rome IV criteria, the prevalence of having a FGID in Chinese infants and young children is 27.3%. Infant regurgitation (33.9%) was the most common FGID among the 0–6 months old while functional constipation (7.0%) was the most common among the 1–4 years old. Risk factor analysis revealed that prevalence of infantile colic was higher with better maternal education and low birth weight. Prevalence of infantile regurgitation was significantly greater in males, living in a rural area, being exclusively breast fed at least up to 4 months and starting formula feeds within the first month. The risk of functional constipation was lower for infants who were delivered vaginally. Conclusions Infantile regurgitation was the most common FGID in Chinese infants while functional constipation was most prevalent among young Chinese children. Trial registration Netherlands Trial Registry Identifier: NL6973/NTR7161.


Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Llanos-Chea ◽  
Alessio Fasano

In children, functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common at all ages. Consumption of certain foods, particularly gluten, is frequently associated with the development and persistence of FGIDs and functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) in adults and children. However, this association is not well defined. Even without a diagnosis of celiac disease (CD), some people avoid gluten or wheat in their diet since it has been shown to trigger mostly gastrointestinal symptoms in certain individuals, especially in children. The incidence of conditions such as non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is increasing, particularly in children. On the other hand, CD is a chronic, autoimmune small intestinal enteropathy with symptoms that can sometimes be mimicked by FAPD. It is still unclear if pediatric patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are more likely to have CD. Abdominal, pain-associated FGID in children with CD does not seem to improve on a gluten-free diet. The threshold for gluten tolerance in patients with NCGS is unknown and varies among subjects. Thus, it is challenging to clearly distinguish between gluten exclusion and improvement of symptoms related solely to functional disorders.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 175628481985379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Tuppin ◽  
Sébastien Rivière ◽  
David Deutsch ◽  
Christelle Gastaldi-Menager ◽  
Jean-Marc Sabaté

Background: Gastrointestinal therapeutic drugs (GTDs) are extensively prescribed. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of GTD use in a large population: the French general health scheme beneficiaries (87% of the 66 million inhabitants) in 2016. Methods: The national health data system was used to identify individual characteristics, diseases and GTD classes reimbursed, together with the costs, using anatomical therapeutic chemical class. Results: Among the 57.5 million individuals included, 45% received at least one reimbursement among the 130 million prescriptions reimbursed (90% prescribed by a general practitioner): proton-pump inhibitors (PPI; A02BC: 24%), drugs for functional gastrointestinal disorders (A03: 20%), drugs for constipation (A06: 10%), antidiarrheals, intestinal anti-inflammatory/anti-infective agents (A07: 10%), antiemetics and antinauseants (A04: 7%), other drugs for acid-related disorders (A02X: 6%), other drugs for peptic ulcer and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (A02BX: 4.5%), antacids (A02A: 1.5%). The overall cost of reimbursed GTDs was €707 million and the mean cost per user was €28. Marked variations were observed according to age, sex, and disease. The rates of at least one reimbursement among infants were A07: 28%, A03: 17%, A02BX: 9%, A02X: 7%, A02BC: 6% and A06: 5%. Women more frequently received a reimbursement than men for each GTD class. Reimbursement rates also varied according to health status (end-stage renal disease A02BC: 66%, pregnancy A03: 53%, A04: 11%), treatments (people with at least six reimbursements for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in 2016 A02BC: 62%). Chronic GTD use (>10 reimbursements/year) was observed in 19% of people with at least one A02BC reimbursement, A02BX: 11%, A03: 7%, A04: 2%, A06: 17% and A07: 3%. Conclusions: This study demonstrates extensive and chronic use of GTD in France, raising the question of their relevance according to current guidelines. They must be disseminated to general practitioners, who are the main prescribers of these drugs.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2891
Author(s):  
Jarosław Kwiecień ◽  
Weronika Hajzler ◽  
Klaudia Kosek ◽  
Sylwia Balcerowicz ◽  
Dominika Grzanka ◽  
...  

Fructose malabsorption is regarded as one of the most common types of sugar intolerance. However, the correlation between gastrointestinal symptoms and positive results in fructose hydrogen breath tests (HBTs) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical importance of positive fructose HBT by correlating the HBT results with clinical features in children with various gastrointestinal symptoms. Clinical features and fructose HBT results were obtained from 323 consecutive children (2–18 years old, mean 10.7 ± 4.3 years) that were referred to the Tertiary Paediatric Gastroenterology Centre and diagnosed as having functional gastrointestinal disorders. A total of 114 out of 323 children (35.3%) had positive HBT results, of which 61 patients were females (53.5%) and 53 were males (46.5%). Children with positive HBT were significantly younger than children with negative HBT (9.0 vs. 11.6 years old; p < 0.001). The most frequent symptom among children with fructose malabsorption was recurrent abdominal pain (89.5%). Other important symptoms were diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and flatulence. However, no correlation between positive fructose HBT results and any of the reported symptoms or general clinical features was found. In conclusion, positive fructose HBT in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders can be attributed to their younger age but not to some peculiar clinical feature of the disease.


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