Probiotics: The Scientific Evidence in the Context of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) generally comprises Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), and their main characteristic is the intestinal mucosa inflammation. Although its origin is not yet fully known, there is growing evidence related to genetics, intestinal microbiota composition, and the immune system factors such as precursors for the initiation and progression of intestinal conditions. The use of certain probiotic microorganisms has been touted as a possible and promising therapeutic approach in reducing the risk of inflammatory bowel disease, specifically ulcerative colitis. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the benefits of probiotics, indicating that some bacterial strains are able to positively modulate the intestinal microbiota and the immune system, and to produce metabolites with anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this paper is to bring together the various results and information, based on scientific evidence, that are related to probiotics and inflammatory bowel disease, emphasizing the possible mechanisms involved in this action.

Development of a potential probiotic yoghurt using selected anti-inflammatory lactic acid bacteria for prevention of colitis and carcinogenesis in mice

“…Fermented milks and probiotics appear to be very promising for IBD patients since several studies have shown that these can possess anti‐inflammatory properties (de Moreno de LeBlanc and LeBlanc ; Celiberto et al . ; Wasilewski et al . ).…”

“…In this sense, probiotics, used as dietary supplements or pharmaceutical preparations, have been evaluated as an alternative (Celiberto et al . ).…”

The application of probiotics for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, hepatopathy, and infectious diseases

“…Изменения в качественном и/или количественном составе микробиоты кишечника и дисбаланс микрофлоры (дисбиоз) могут приводить к клинически значимым негативным последствиям для процесса пищеварения, снижению детоксикационной функции печени и развитию ряда заболеваний, включая воспалительные заболевания кишечника (ВЗК) и болезни печени [3][4][5].…”

Probiotics in Animal Husbandry: Applicability and Associated Risk Factors

“…Probiotics have been widely studied because of their ability to modulate gut microbiota and immunological systems in both humans and livestock [1,2], where they serve as prophylaxes and for therapeutic purposes in clinical and veterinary practices [3][4][5]. Thus, probiotics are considered as an emerging, safe and viable alternative to antibiotics, for increasing the performance of farm animals.…”