ABSTRACT
Bothersome gastrointestinal (GI) signs/symptoms, including abdominal pain, distension, nausea, and flatulence, are common in children. A diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) is frequently recommended for children with GI symptoms. Currently, there are no studies on the effect of FODMAPs in healthy schoolchildren. In this cross-sectional study, schoolchildren reported an association between FODMAPs and GI symptoms through a standardized questionnaire and images of 20 common staples known to be rich in FODMAPs. A total of 208 schoolchildren aged 8-18 years old participated. A proportion of 38.0% of children reported GI symptoms, with abdominal pain (33%) being the most common complaint followed by abdominal distension (24%) and nausea (23%). The majority of children who reported intolerances to FODMAP-containing foods were intolerant to less than two food groups (76%). While vegetables and legumes (26%), particularly black beans (11%) and onions (7%), emerged as the most common group of triggers, milk (12%) stood out as the single food most frequently associated with GI symptoms. In conclusion, there was a high prevalence of FODMAPs intolerance among schoolchildren. Larger studies are recommended to confirm these findings and to inform possible dietary interventions to reduce the effect of FODMAPs on schoolchildren.
Subject(s)
Abdominal Pain , Defecation , Abdominal Pain/epidemiology , Abdominal Pain/etiology , Adolescent , Constipation/epidemiology , Curacao , HumansABSTRACT
Resumen Introducción: la fisiopatología de los desórdenes gastrointestinales funcionales (DGF) incluye un eje intestino-cerebro alterado. Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia y posibles asociaciones de ansiedad en niños con DGF. Metodología: estudio de prevalencia realizado en ciudades colombianas en niños entre 8 y 18 años a quienes se les identificaron DGF según los Criterios de Roma III y ansiedad por medio del State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children. Se incluyeron variables sociodemográficas y familiares. El análisis estadístico incluyó medidas de tendencia central, análisis uni- y multivariados, y regresión logística, teniendo en cuenta una p < 0,05 como significativa. Resultados: se incluyeron 1496 niños, 12,7 ± 2,1 años, 50,5 % niñas, 79,9 % con ansiedad transitoria y 51,5 % con tendencia a experimentar estados de ansiedad. Hubo predominio para el estado-ansiedad en adolescentes masculinos y para el rasgo-ansiedad en adolescentes femeninas con algún DGF. Los posibles factores de riesgo fueron la edad y el sexo para estado-ansiedad, y la edad, el sexo y los DGF para el rasgo-ansiedad. Conclusiones: cerca de la mitad de los niños tuvo tendencia a presentar estados de ansiedad, con predominio de las adolescentes femeninas y con factores de riesgo como la edad, el sexo y tener algún DGF.
Abstract Introduction: The pathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders includes alteration of the gut-brain axis. Objective: This study measures prevalence and of functional gastrointestinal disorders and discusses possible associations with anxiety in children with these conditions. Methodology: This is a prevalence study of children between 8 and 18 years of age diagnosed with functional gastrointestinal disorders as defined by the Rome III Criteria and anxiety as defined by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children in several Colombian cities. Sociodemographic and family variables were included. Statistical analyses included measures of central tendency, univariate and multivariate analysis, and logistic regression, with p <0.05 established as significant. Results: The study included 1,496 children of whom 50.5% were girls. The boys average age was 12.7 ± 2.1 years, 79.9% had suffered transitory anxiety, and 51.5% had tendencies to experience states of anxiety. State/anxiety predominated in male adolescents while trait/anxiety predominated in female adolescents with functional gastrointestinal disorders. Possible risk factors for state/anxiety were age and sex. Possible risk factors for trait/anxiety were age, sex, and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Conclusions: About half of the children tended to states of anxiety. Female adolescents predominated with risk factors of age, sex, and some functional gastrointestinal disorders.
