en Gastroentrology Gastroentrology Original Article Original Article <span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="color:#0033ff;"><strong><em>Background</em></strong><em>:</em></span> One of the common functional gastrointestinal disorders in children is functional abdominal pain (FAP). The aim of the present study was to determine whether the administration of a synbiotic composed of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and the seven types of beneficial bacteria is useful in FAP of childhood.<br> <span style="color:#0033ff;"><strong><em>Methods</em></strong><em>:</em></span> In this placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, 4-15-year-old children who met the Rome III criteria for FAP were randomly divided to receive either synbiotic or placebo twice daily for 4 weeks. Primary outcome was at least 50% reduction in the number of pain episodes, and secondary outcomes were a decline of at least two scales in the pain duration and intensity based on Wong-Baker scale. Response to therapy was decrease of pain frequency/intensity.<br> <span style="color:#0033ff;"><strong><em>Results</em></strong><em>:</em></span> A total of 67 children completed the trial (35 with synbiotic). Response rate was higher with synbiotic than placebo after four weeks (53.1 vs 11.4%; p<0.001), and synbiotic had significant superiority to placebo to relieve the duration (4.56&plusmn;9.12 vs12&plusmn;18.59, min/day, P=0.04), frequency (0.31&plusmn;0.53vs 1.17&plusmn;0.7, episode/Wk., P<.001) and intensity (2.38&plusmn;2.29 vs 5.49&plusmn;1.83, p<0.001) of abdominal pain.<br> <span style="color:#0033ff;"><strong><em>Conclusion</em></strong><em>:</em></span> Synbiotic compared to placebo significantly decreased the intensity, frequency and duration of FAP in children.</span></span> Abdominal pain, Child, Synbiotic. 194 199 http://caspjim.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1437-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Azade Gholizadeh gholizadeh.a.84@gmail.com 100319475328460028181 100319475328460028181 No Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran Sanaz Mehrabani mehrabanisanaz@gmail.com 100319475328460028182 100319475328460028182 Yes Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran Mohammadreza Esmaeili Dooki esmaeilidooki@yahoo.com 100319475328460028183 100319475328460028183 No Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran Mahmood Haji Ahmadi 100319475328460028184 100319475328460028184 No Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran