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Psyllium in Pediatric IBS

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Editor's note
Fiber's ability to reshape fermentation patterns and symptom burden in fructan-sensitive children remains largely unmapped—this trial directly measures whether psyllium can redirect problematic bacterial metabolism without requiring dietary restriction. The finding would be mechanistically incremental but clinically significant, filling a gap between dietary avoidance and microbiome-targeted intervention in pediatric IBS. Pediatric gastroenterologists and dietitians managing functional bowel disorders in children should track enrollment and results closely.

Source: ctgov · Dr Bruno Chumpitazi, M.D. · RECRUITING · 2026-05-26

URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06639984

AI rationale (4/5, tier: emerging): RCT measuring microbiome composition, SCFA production, and fermentation dynamics in response to fiber intervention; mechanistic focus on microbial function.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a fiber (psyllium) can change the way bacteria use fructans (a type of sugar) and whether psyllium can help decrease childhood irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms when eating fructans. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Aim 1: The effect of psyllium at two doses given with a fructan meal on microbial fructan fermentation (intracolonic pH; H2 gas production; gut microbiome composition; fecal short-chain fatty acids, lactate, glycomics).

Aim 2: Determine the impact of psyllium given with a fructan meal on fructan-induced GI symptoms.

Participants will first be asked to eat a specific diet over two three-day periods to determine if fructans worsen their IBS symptoms. Those with worsening symptoms with fructans will be asked to participate in the second part of the study. This includes two weeks of baseline (no change in diet) and two weeks of eating a specific diet with fructans with either psyllium or glucose. Participants will

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Published 2026-05-28 · Last kit-update 2026-05-28