Could a daily probiotic soothe both bellyaches and anxiety in children?

NCT ID NCT02711800

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This small pilot study tested whether a daily probiotic (Lactobacillus rhamnosus) could reduce abdominal pain and anxiety in children aged 9 to 13. Nine children who had both anxiety and stomach pain took the probiotic for 30 days. Researchers measured changes in pain and anxiety before and after treatment. Because the study was very small and had no placebo group, the results are preliminary and meant to guide future, larger studies.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Culturelle Kids probiotic)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could point toward a simple probiotic treatment for children with both anxiety and stomach pain.

What could go wrong

This is a very small pilot study with only 9 participants, so results may not apply to other children. The trial is also open-label, meaning no placebo was used, which can bias outcomes.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Abdominal Pain anxiety anxiety disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Duke Center for Developmental Epedimiology

    Durham, North Carolina, 27701, United States