Digestive regularity is rarely on the minds of children as it is for adults, but it may be something their families like to keep tabs on. New research evaluates several methods to help keep a child regular to determine which may be most effective.

As many as 3 percent of children in the Western world have chronic problems with regularity, according to researchers in the Netherlands. However, there are very few studies that evaluate natural, non-pharmaceutical methods to relieve the problem. This prompted the team to review nine studies that included more than 640 children. The combined experiments included remedies such as fiber supplements, fluid intake, behavioral therapy with laxatives, prebiotics and probiotics.

The results suggested that dietary fiber supplements may provide some benefits to the digestive health of children, as published Sept. 26 in Pediatrics. One small study found that before the experiment began, about 71 percent of kids had a low daily intake of fiber. By the end of treatment, a greater proportion of children experienced better digestive health.

However, little evidence has been found to support other forms of therapy, which only demonstrates that more scientific studies that are well-organized are needed to evaluate different treatments, including acupuncture and chiropractic medicine, the researchers said.