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Consider this probiotic for functional abdominal pain
In the article, “When can infants and children benefit from probiotics?” (J Fam Pract. 2016;65:789-794), Dassow et al recommended probiotics as a therapeutic tool for reducing abdominal pain associated with pediatric irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There are several types of functional disorders in childhood with related abdominal pain, the most common of which are IBS and functional abdominal pain (FAP).1,2
Several recent randomized placebo-controlled trials—one of which I led—have shown that Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 is a beneficial treatment for FAP in children.3-5 When compared with placebo, this probiotic agent significantly reduced the frequency and intensity of FAP in children.
Family physicians should consider this probiotic microorganism as a potential therapeutic tool for IBS, as well as childhood FAP.
Zvi Weizman, MD
Beer-Sheva, Israel
1. Childhood functional GI disorders: child/adolescent. In: Drossman DA CE, Delvaux M, Spiller RC, et al, eds. Rome III: the functional gastrointestinal disorders. 3rd ed. McLean, VA: Degnon Associates, Inc; 2006:895-897.
2. Brown LK, Beattie RM, Tighe MP. Practical management of functional abdominal pain in children. Arch Dis Child. 2016;101:677-683.
3. Romano C, Ferrau’ V, Cavataio F, et al. Lactobacillus reuteri in children with functional abdominal pain (FAP). J Paediatr Child Health. 2014;50:E68-E71.
4. Weizman Z, Abu-Abed J, Binsztok M. Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for the management of functional abdominal pain in childhood: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Pediatr. 2016;174:160-164.e1.
5. Jadrešin O, Hojsak I, Mišak Z, et al. Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in the treatment of functional abdominal pain in children - RCT study. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2017;64:925-929.
In the article, “When can infants and children benefit from probiotics?” (J Fam Pract. 2016;65:789-794), Dassow et al recommended probiotics as a therapeutic tool for reducing abdominal pain associated with pediatric irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There are several types of functional disorders in childhood with related abdominal pain, the most common of which are IBS and functional abdominal pain (FAP).1,2
Several recent randomized placebo-controlled trials—one of which I led—have shown that Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 is a beneficial treatment for FAP in children.3-5 When compared with placebo, this probiotic agent significantly reduced the frequency and intensity of FAP in children.
Family physicians should consider this probiotic microorganism as a potential therapeutic tool for IBS, as well as childhood FAP.
Zvi Weizman, MD
Beer-Sheva, Israel
In the article, “When can infants and children benefit from probiotics?” (J Fam Pract. 2016;65:789-794), Dassow et al recommended probiotics as a therapeutic tool for reducing abdominal pain associated with pediatric irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There are several types of functional disorders in childhood with related abdominal pain, the most common of which are IBS and functional abdominal pain (FAP).1,2
Several recent randomized placebo-controlled trials—one of which I led—have shown that Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 is a beneficial treatment for FAP in children.3-5 When compared with placebo, this probiotic agent significantly reduced the frequency and intensity of FAP in children.
Family physicians should consider this probiotic microorganism as a potential therapeutic tool for IBS, as well as childhood FAP.
Zvi Weizman, MD
Beer-Sheva, Israel
1. Childhood functional GI disorders: child/adolescent. In: Drossman DA CE, Delvaux M, Spiller RC, et al, eds. Rome III: the functional gastrointestinal disorders. 3rd ed. McLean, VA: Degnon Associates, Inc; 2006:895-897.
2. Brown LK, Beattie RM, Tighe MP. Practical management of functional abdominal pain in children. Arch Dis Child. 2016;101:677-683.
3. Romano C, Ferrau’ V, Cavataio F, et al. Lactobacillus reuteri in children with functional abdominal pain (FAP). J Paediatr Child Health. 2014;50:E68-E71.
4. Weizman Z, Abu-Abed J, Binsztok M. Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for the management of functional abdominal pain in childhood: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Pediatr. 2016;174:160-164.e1.
5. Jadrešin O, Hojsak I, Mišak Z, et al. Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in the treatment of functional abdominal pain in children - RCT study. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2017;64:925-929.
1. Childhood functional GI disorders: child/adolescent. In: Drossman DA CE, Delvaux M, Spiller RC, et al, eds. Rome III: the functional gastrointestinal disorders. 3rd ed. McLean, VA: Degnon Associates, Inc; 2006:895-897.
2. Brown LK, Beattie RM, Tighe MP. Practical management of functional abdominal pain in children. Arch Dis Child. 2016;101:677-683.
3. Romano C, Ferrau’ V, Cavataio F, et al. Lactobacillus reuteri in children with functional abdominal pain (FAP). J Paediatr Child Health. 2014;50:E68-E71.
4. Weizman Z, Abu-Abed J, Binsztok M. Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for the management of functional abdominal pain in childhood: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Pediatr. 2016;174:160-164.e1.
5. Jadrešin O, Hojsak I, Mišak Z, et al. Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in the treatment of functional abdominal pain in children - RCT study. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2017;64:925-929.
A tool to help limit patients’ sodium intake
The average American consumes about 3400 mg/d of sodium, which is more than double the 1500 mg recommended by the American Heart Association.1 Excess sodium added to foods during commercial processing and preparation represents the main source of sodium intake in American diets.2 Nevertheless, adding salt at the table is still very common, and people who add salt at the table have 1.5 g higher salt intakes than those who do not add salt.3 And as we know, high sodium intake has been associated with elevated blood pressure and an increased rate of cardiovascular disease.4
I have designed a self-produced “Salt Awareness—Limit Today” (SALT) label (FIGURE). This label is attached to the cap of a salt shaker in such a way that less salt flows through the openings of the cap. Moreover, the label serves as a reminder to limit salt intake in general. The feedback I have received from my patients has been extremely positive; they report increased awareness and decreased sodium intake. I mention it here so that others may benefit.
Zvi Weizman, MD
Beer-Sheva, Israel
1. Cobb LK, Anderson CA, Elliott P, et al; American Heart Association Council on Lifestyle and Metabolic Health. Methodological issues in cohort studies that relate sodium intake to cardiovascular disease outcomes: a science advisory from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2014;129:1173-1186.
2. Jackson SL, King SM, Zhao L, et al. Prevalence of excess sodium intake in the United States - NHANES, 2009-2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;64:1393-1397.
3. Webster J, Su’a SA, Ieremia M, et al. Salt intakes, knowledge, and behavior in Samoa: Monitoring salt-consumption patterns through the World Health Organization’s surveillance of noncommunicable disease risk factors (STEPS). J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2016.
4. Mozaffarian D, Fahimi S, Singh GM, et al; Global Burden of Diseases Nutrition and Chronic Diseases Expert Group. Global sodium consumption and death from cardiovascular causes. N Engl J Med. 2014;371:624-634.
The average American consumes about 3400 mg/d of sodium, which is more than double the 1500 mg recommended by the American Heart Association.1 Excess sodium added to foods during commercial processing and preparation represents the main source of sodium intake in American diets.2 Nevertheless, adding salt at the table is still very common, and people who add salt at the table have 1.5 g higher salt intakes than those who do not add salt.3 And as we know, high sodium intake has been associated with elevated blood pressure and an increased rate of cardiovascular disease.4
I have designed a self-produced “Salt Awareness—Limit Today” (SALT) label (FIGURE). This label is attached to the cap of a salt shaker in such a way that less salt flows through the openings of the cap. Moreover, the label serves as a reminder to limit salt intake in general. The feedback I have received from my patients has been extremely positive; they report increased awareness and decreased sodium intake. I mention it here so that others may benefit.
Zvi Weizman, MD
Beer-Sheva, Israel
The average American consumes about 3400 mg/d of sodium, which is more than double the 1500 mg recommended by the American Heart Association.1 Excess sodium added to foods during commercial processing and preparation represents the main source of sodium intake in American diets.2 Nevertheless, adding salt at the table is still very common, and people who add salt at the table have 1.5 g higher salt intakes than those who do not add salt.3 And as we know, high sodium intake has been associated with elevated blood pressure and an increased rate of cardiovascular disease.4
I have designed a self-produced “Salt Awareness—Limit Today” (SALT) label (FIGURE). This label is attached to the cap of a salt shaker in such a way that less salt flows through the openings of the cap. Moreover, the label serves as a reminder to limit salt intake in general. The feedback I have received from my patients has been extremely positive; they report increased awareness and decreased sodium intake. I mention it here so that others may benefit.
Zvi Weizman, MD
Beer-Sheva, Israel
1. Cobb LK, Anderson CA, Elliott P, et al; American Heart Association Council on Lifestyle and Metabolic Health. Methodological issues in cohort studies that relate sodium intake to cardiovascular disease outcomes: a science advisory from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2014;129:1173-1186.
2. Jackson SL, King SM, Zhao L, et al. Prevalence of excess sodium intake in the United States - NHANES, 2009-2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;64:1393-1397.
3. Webster J, Su’a SA, Ieremia M, et al. Salt intakes, knowledge, and behavior in Samoa: Monitoring salt-consumption patterns through the World Health Organization’s surveillance of noncommunicable disease risk factors (STEPS). J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2016.
4. Mozaffarian D, Fahimi S, Singh GM, et al; Global Burden of Diseases Nutrition and Chronic Diseases Expert Group. Global sodium consumption and death from cardiovascular causes. N Engl J Med. 2014;371:624-634.
1. Cobb LK, Anderson CA, Elliott P, et al; American Heart Association Council on Lifestyle and Metabolic Health. Methodological issues in cohort studies that relate sodium intake to cardiovascular disease outcomes: a science advisory from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2014;129:1173-1186.
2. Jackson SL, King SM, Zhao L, et al. Prevalence of excess sodium intake in the United States - NHANES, 2009-2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;64:1393-1397.
3. Webster J, Su’a SA, Ieremia M, et al. Salt intakes, knowledge, and behavior in Samoa: Monitoring salt-consumption patterns through the World Health Organization’s surveillance of noncommunicable disease risk factors (STEPS). J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2016.
4. Mozaffarian D, Fahimi S, Singh GM, et al; Global Burden of Diseases Nutrition and Chronic Diseases Expert Group. Global sodium consumption and death from cardiovascular causes. N Engl J Med. 2014;371:624-634.