ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) are a common health problem in the pediatric population. Research suggests that several environmental modifiable factors, such as physical activity, growth status and dietary habits, may determine the symptoms of the disease. The aim of this pilot study was to assess whether the frequency and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms are associated with dietary intake, physical activity level and BMI in children with functional abdominal pain (FAP). METHODS: The study enrolled 25 children (5-11 years old) with diagnosed FAP. Dietary intake data were collected using a 7-day food diary. Patients were asked about physical activity at school and during their free time. Participants collected information about gastrointestinal symptoms over a 2-week period. The frequencies of abdominal pain and stools were recorded as number of events per day; the severity of abdominal pain was assessed using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale, and stool consistency based on the Bristol Stool Form Scale. Differences between groups were verified with the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: In the group of children with insufficient intake of fiber, abdominal pain intensity was significantly higher (median: 1.75 points/day, IQR: 1.18-2.32) than among participants with adequate intake (median: 0.29 points/day, IQR: 0.08-0.57; p = 0.006). Stool frequency was significantly lower in children who reported moderate physical activity in their free time (median: 0.86 times/day, IQR: 0.64-1.14) than in children with high free time physical activity (median: 1.36 times/day, IQR: 1.29-1.50; p = 0.031). There was no significant association between other lifestyle factors and gastrointestinal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that simple recommendations relative to modifiable lifestyle factors, such as diet or physical activity, may reduce abdominal pain intensity and improve stool frequency in children with FAP.
