Study on the correlation between fecal calprotectin levels and serum sIgC levels in children with functional abdominal pain disorders

WANG Guo-zhen; HUI Qin; WANG Lin; LI Wei; ZHOU Zhi-xiang; ZHANG Tie

doi:10.19538/j.ek2025040612

Abstract：Objective To explore the correlation between fecal calprotectin levels and serum levels of specific IgG antibodies for food intolerance(FI)in children with functional abdominal pain disorders.Methods Totally 240 children from China-Japan Friendship Hospital between Mar.2023 to Oct.2023 were included in the study,including 120 with functional abdominal pain disorders and 120 healthy children.Analyses were conducted on fecal samples and peripheral venous blood samples from both groups by measuring levels of fecal calprotectin,serum specific IgG antibodies for food intolerance,and inflammatory markers[including C-reactive protein(CRP)and IL-6].Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.Results The positive rate of specific IgG antibodies for food intolerance in the group of children with functional abdominal pain disorders was significantly higher than that in the control group(80.83％vs.26.67％,x2=109.48,P＜0.05).Additionally,levels of fecal calprotectin in children with functional abdominal pain disorders were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group(P＜0.01).No significant differences were observed in serum CRP or IL-6 levels between the two groups(P＞0.05).Notably,a positive correlation was found between serum levels of specific IgG antibodies for food intolerance and fecal calprotectin levels(r=0.683,P＜0.01).Conclusion There is a close relationship between food intolerance and functional abdominal pain in children,and there is a positive correlation between food-specific IgG levels and fecal calprotectin levels.This provides important clues for unveiling the underlying mechanisms of functional abdominal pain disorders in children.