Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders and functional constipation: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Giovanna Quatrale, Marco Bianchi, Luigi Colecchia, Valentina Giorgio, Maurizio Mennini, Sara Sergio, Marco Graziani, Giorgia Gallo, Silvia Furio, Laura Tiberia, Giovanni Barbara, Giovanni Marasco, Giovanni Di NardoAbstract
Objectives
Functional abdominal pain (FAP) and functional constipation (FC), are common in children and affect quality of life. Dysfunction of the microbiota–gut–brain axis may contribute to their pathophysiology, with growing interest in probiotic interventions. Limosilactobacillus reuteri ( L. reuteri ) DSM 17938 has been widely studied, but its efficacy remains unclear. This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of L. reuteri DSM 17938 in pediatric FAP and FC.
Methods
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to October 2025 were identified from major databases. Eligible studies included children diagnosed by Rome criteria and treated with L. reuteri DSM 17938 as a single strain. Primary outcomes were responder rates for FAP and normalization of stool frequency for FC, with abdominal pain frequency and intensity assessed as secondary outcomes for FAP.
Results
Five RCTs, including 302 children with FAP, and five RCTs, including 276 children with FC, were analyzed. In FAP, L. reuteri DSM 17938 did not significantly improve responder rates (risk ratio [RR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83–1.47, p = 0.49), abdominal pain frequency ( p = 0.91; 95% CI −0.42 to 0.38), or pain intensity ( p = 0.14, 95% CI −1.07 to 0.15) compared with placebo in meta‐analysis. In FC, the pooled analysis showed no significant difference in stool frequency (RR 1.1, 95% CI 0.94–1.27, p = 0.27).
Conclusions
In this systematic review and meta‐analysis, L. reuteri DSM 17938 did not demonstrate clinically significant benefits in pediatric FAP or FC. Further well‐powered, strain‐specific RCTs with standardized outcome measures are warranted to clarify its role.