The use of dietary fiber in the management of simple, childhood, idiopathic, recurrent, abdominal pain. Results in a prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial
W. Feldman, P. McGrath, C. Hodgson, H. Ritter and R. T. Shipman
Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) affects 10% to 18% of school-age children
and is caused by obvious organic pathology in fewer than 10% of cases. Two
recent studies do not support previous beliefs that most RAP is
psychogenic. Studies have shown disorders of bowel motility in children
with RAP similar to those of adult irritable bowel syndrome (IBS);
controlled trials of additional dietary fiber in adult IBS have shown
beneficial results. We did a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
study in 52 children with RAP and demonstrated a clinically and
statistically significant decrease in pain attacks (at least 50% fewer) in
almost twice as many children who were given additional fiber as placebo.
Compliance was excellent in both groups and side effects were few. Although
the cause of RAP is poorly understood, it is hypothesized that the
beneficial effect of added fiber is due to its effect on shortening transit
time, as in IBS.
