Are Probiotics Good for Ulcerative Colitis?

Are probiotics for ulcerative colitis (UC) good for improving gut health? Here are some key things to consider, what the?research shows, and recommended probiotic strains.

In inflammatory bowel diseases like UC, the gut microbiome becomes out of balance which allows bad bacteria to grow and cause disease. Research suggests that altering the microflora in favor of “good bacteria” can repair the gastrointestinal tract and protect against disease-causing pathogens.?

But does probiotic supplementation provide this much-needed shift during states of active disease? Today’s blog will explore the effects of probiotics in treatment for UC, which probiotic strains are associated with the best outcomes, and where the research stands in terms of recommendations.

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics?are defined as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit upon the host.”?

When these organisms are plentiful in the gut, they allow the microflora to exist in a symbiotic (mutually beneficial) relationship with the human body. They help?metabolize nutrients, enhance immune response, and protect against infection.

Probiotics are stronger competitors than the “bad” bacteria and keep the harmful strains from becoming dominant in the gut. When the bad strains are lower in numbers, they are less likely to cause infection.?

Types of Probiotics

There are many thousands of different probiotic species and strains. Well-known species include:?

• Lactobacillus
• Bifidobacterium
• Saccharomyces
• Streptococcus
• Escherichia
• Bacillus

Probiotics’ health-promoting effects in the human body depend on the species, strain, and quantity of the organism. Some benefits include protection against upper respiratory infections and promoting regularity of bowel movements.

Sources of Probiotics

Probiotics are available as dietary supplements like capsules, gummies, and powders. Probiotic species are measured in colony forming units (CFUs), which correspond to the number of living cells present. Most probiotic supplements have a dosage of 1 to 10 billion CFUs. Some products contain as high as 50 billion CFUs per dose.

Probiotic organisms also occur naturally in many fermented foods, including:

• Kombucha
• Yogurt
• Kefir
• Sauerkraut
• Kimchi
• Miso?

They can be added to food products, such as dairy milk containing?Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Probiotics and Prebiotics

Prebiotics are complex carbohydrate nutrients which provide fuel for probiotic bacteria. Prebiotics are found in many nutrient-dense carbohydrate foods like whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables.

There are some commercially available supplements which contain both probiotics and prebiotics.

Probiotics and Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a medical condition characterized by continuous inflammation of the large intestine. It often alternates between periods of remission (no symptoms of disease) and relapse, which results in symptoms like bloody diarrhea, cramping, bloating, and abdominal pain.

There are research studies which found that treatment with probiotics increased remission rates in adults with UC.

What the Research Shows

A?2014 meta-analysis in?Inflammatory Bowel Diseases?found that adults with active UC had increased rates of remission after supplementation with probiotics.?

The?official recommendation?is to begin the course of probiotics at the onset of a UC flare and continue for 1-2 weeks past the resolution of symptoms.

A?2016 study?found that UC patients who received daily probiotics alongside anti-inflammatory drugs over two years had greater improvements in disease management than the subjects who received the medication only. These findings indicate that probiotics may also be helpful in long-term improvement of ulcerative colitis.?

However, further research is needed to determine probiotics’ role in the management of UC, particularly as it pertains to maintaining disease remission.

What Are The Best Probiotics for Ulcerative Colitis?

For more information about different probiotic strains that have been studied for UC as well as the potential risks of taking probiotic supplements, please visit the the full blog here:

https://eatwellcrohnscolitis.com/are-probiotics-good-for-ulcerative-colitis/