Abstract
Intestinal dysbiosis seems to be the leading cause of inflammatory bowel diseases, and probiotics seems to represent the proper support against their occurrence. Actually, probiotic blends and anti-inflammatory drugs represent a weapon against inflammatory bowel diseases. The present study evaluates the long-term (2 years) effects of combination therapy (mesalazine plus a probiotic blend of Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidus strain BGN4) on ulcerative colitis activity. Sixty patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis were enrolled: 30 of them were treated with a single daily oral administration of mesalazine 1200 mg; 30 patients received a single daily oral administration of mesalazine 1200 mg and a double daily administration of a probiotic blend of Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidus strain BGN4. The treatment was carried out for two years and the clinical response evaluated according to the Modified Mayo Disease Activity Index. All patients treated with combination therapy showed better improvement compared to the controls. In particular, the beneficial effects of probiotics were evident even after two years of treatment. A long-term treatment modality of anti-inflammatory drugs and probiotics is viable and could be an alternative to corticosteroids in mild-to moderate ulcerative colitis.
Highlights
Inflammatory bowel disease worldwide incidence and prevalence have been increasing in the last few decades
During the 24 months of study, patients treated with mesalazine and probiotic blend showed better results than those reached by patients treated with mesalazine alone
Comparing patients treated with probiotic blend and mesalazine, and those patients who received the antiinflammatory alone, data report a significant improvement of Modified Mayo Disease Activity Index (MMDAI) in the former group, after 18 months
Summary
Inflammatory bowel disease worldwide incidence and prevalence have been increasing in the last few decades. The current hypothesis is that genetically susceptible individuals have abnormalities of humoral and cell-mediated immunity and a generalized enhanced reactivity against commensal intestinal bacteria[3]. This dysregulated mucosal immune response predisposes to colonic inflammation[3]. Whether these abnormalities are the cause or the result of the intense systemic inflammatory response in UC is still unresolved. Recent studies reported a great variation in the effects of microbiota, focusing, in particular, on the effects of a pro-inflammatory enterotype on mucosal layer and disease activity[5]
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