Pharmacological treatment options for functional gastrointestinal disorders in children

Alagova M.V.; Ermolenko K.D.; Ratnikova A.K.; Samoilova I.G.

doi:https://doi.org/10.17116/dokgastro20251404146

Alagova M.V.

Federal Research and Clinical Center of Infectious Diseases Federal Medical and Biological Agency;
Medical Institute - Saint Petersburg State University

ORCID: 0009-0002-8967-2059

Ermolenko K.D.

Federal Research and Clinical Center of Infectious Diseases Federal Medical and Biological Agency

ORCID: 0000-0003-3643-7354

Ratnikova A.K.

L.G. Sokolov North-Western District Research and Clinical Center

ORCID: 0000-0003-3279-6448

Samoilova I.G.

Federal Research and Clinical Center of Infectious Diseases Federal Medical and Biological Agency;
North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov Ministry of Health of Russia

ORCID: 0000-0002-1838-9304

Pharmacological treatment options for functional gastrointestinal disorders in children

Authors:

Alagova M.V., Ermolenko K.D., Ratnikova A.K., Samoilova I.G.

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Journal: Russian Journal of Evidence-Based Gastroenterology. 2025;14(4): 46‑54

DOI: 10.17116/dokgastro20251404146

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To cite this article:

Alagova MV, Ermolenko KD, Ratnikova AK, Samoilova IG. Pharmacological treatment options for functional gastrointestinal disorders in children. Russian Journal of Evidence-Based Gastroenterology. 2025;14(4):46‑54. (In Russ.)
https://doi.org/10.17116/dokgastro20251404146

Подписка 2026 Доказательная гастроэнтерология (Russian Journal of Evidence-Based Gastroenterology)

Использование инфографики авторами научных работ

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OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of combined pharmacotherapy regimens including probiotics and trimebutine in relieving abdominal pain and normalizing bowel habits in children with FGIDs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A randomized clinical study included 183 children with confirmed FGIDs. Participants were divided into five groups: group 1 (n=41) — Bifidobacterium longum + Enterococcus faecium + trimebutine; group 2 (n=44) — Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG + Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7894 + zinc citrate (Acipol Forte) + trimebutine; group 3 (n=40) — Saccharomyces boulardii + trimebutine; group 4 (n=35) — trimebutine monotherapy; group 5 (n=23) — diet therapy. The evaluated parameters included pain dynamics assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), pain relief rate, stool normalization, reduction of bloating, sleep quality, and treatment adherence.

RESULTS

The best outcomes were observed in group 2: pain relief in 63.6% of children, stool normalization in 93.2%, reduction of bloating in 97.7%, and a decrease in mean VAS pain score to to 1.1 by (82%) day 60. Group 1 showed positive but less stable dynamics. Group 3 demonstrated moderate efficacy, while trimebutine monotherapy (group 4) and diet therapy (group 5) were the least effective.

CONCLUSION

The combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG + Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7894 + zinc citrate (Acipol Forte) with trimebutine proved to be the most effective therapeutic option for FGIDs in children, providing rapid and sustained symptom relief, improved bowel function, and high treatment adherence with good tolerability. The findings emphasize the importance of probiotic strain selection components that enhance their effect (zinc citrate) for achieving optimal outcomes in FGID management.

Keywords:

functional gastrointestinal disorders

children

probiotics

Acipol Forte

trimebutine

Authors:

Alagova M.V.

Federal Research and Clinical Center of Infectious Diseases Federal Medical and Biological Agency;
Medical Institute - Saint Petersburg State University

ORCID: 0009-0002-8967-2059

Ermolenko K.D.

Federal Research and Clinical Center of Infectious Diseases Federal Medical and Biological Agency

ORCID: 0000-0003-3643-7354

Ratnikova A.K.

L.G. Sokolov North-Western District Research and Clinical Center

ORCID: 0000-0003-3279-6448

Samoilova I.G.

Federal Research and Clinical Center of Infectious Diseases Federal Medical and Biological Agency;
North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov Ministry of Health of Russia

ORCID: 0000-0002-1838-9304

Received:

18.10.2025

Accepted:

17.11.2025

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