Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease (May 2008)

This month I will share new scientific information about the benefits of probiotics for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are the two chronic, relapsing inflammatory bowel disorders. The exact cause of these disorders is unknown, but scientists have determined that these conditions are due to abnormal immune responses to antigens or proteins that belong to normal bacteria. Current medical therapy has been directed at modifying the immune response. It has been thought that some people develop inflammatory bowel disease due to a genetic predisposition. When we are born our intestines are sterile, but as soon as we start nursing, normal, beneficial bacteria start to colonize our intestines. It is important for our immune system to recognize these bacteria as harmless and not mount immune reaction against them. Unfortunately for some individuals, their intestinal immune cells and lining cells do not recognize these friendly bacteria and immune reaction is the resulting effect. Studies of the benefits of probiotics in individuals with Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis have been mixed. Dependant upon the probiotic, dose, and disorder, there have been a number of trials that have demonstrated that a specific probiotic or blend of probiotics could lessen the intestinal inflammation.1,2,3,4 Last month a scientific study was published which evaluated two specific probiotic strains of Bifidobacteria.5 The study showed that these bacteria produced specific substances that could lessen intestinal inflammation. One substance called Interleukin 10(IL-10) is able to suppress an immune reaction that causes inflammation. In addition, the bacteria were able to suppress the intestinal production of Interleukin 8 (IL-8); IL-8 is known to stimulate intestinal inflammation by recruiting circulating white blood cells to the intestinal lining. These results explain how probiotics may help individuals who have Ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Selecting probiotics that have the characteristic found in these particular Bifidobacteria would be advantageous. In addition, probiotics, unlike other immune suppressive drugs, have no adverse side effects. These are exciting times in medical research of probiotics for human health! Thanks for your interest in EndoMune. Eat healthy and live well! Lawrence J Hoberman, MD References 1) Probiotics: Do They Help to Control Intestinal Inflammation?. BOHM, S. K.; KRUIS, W ] Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1072(1):339-350, August 2006. 2) Probiotics in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Yet Another Mechanism of Action? . C . Fiocchi Gastroenterology, Volume 131 , Issue 6 , Pages 2009 - 2012 3) Probiotics in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Rioux, Kevin P / Fedorak, Richard N , Journal of clinical gastroenterology, 40 (3), p.260-263, Mar 2006 4) The role of probiotics in inflammatory bowel disease. Jones, Jennifer L / Foxx-Orenstein, Amy E , Digestive diseases and sciences, 52 (3), p.607-611, Mar 2007 5) Anti-inflammatory activity of probiotic Bifidobacterium: Enhancement of IL-10 production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from ulcerative colitis patients and inhibition of IL-8 secretion in HT-29 cells. Imaoka A, Shima T, Kato K, Mizuno S, Uehara T, Matsumoto S, Setoyama H, Hara T, Umesaki Y. World J Gastroenterol 2008 April;14(16):2511-2516 Take Home Message EndoMune has three different strains of Bifidobacteria which may have similar benefits on the immune system as those achieved within the study. The specific tests done on the Bifidobacteria in the sited study have not been done on very many of the known Bifidobacterial strains, so concrete claims cannot be made. However, if you do suffer from Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis, it might be worth your while to try EndoMune.