What Probiotics Do You Use? (kind of long, sorry)

I have been doing a lot of research into the use of probiotics with UC and here's my understanding of them so far:
-The underlying cause of UC is not known, but its symptoms are triggered by an inappropriate immune response. E.G., our bodies think there's an infection or injury in our gut when there really isn't.
-Since the gut is populated by over 200 different microogranisms that normally exist in very specific populations, it is thought that perhaps an overgrowth of native species, or the lack of certain species, or the ratio of species, is off balance with UC sufferers, and this may be the reason our immune system begins to react inappropriately .
-In other words, the garden of our gut has some weeds! (or, not enough good plants.)

In shopping around, I have found that there are a huge number of different probiotics available, the most common being bacteria in the lactobacillus family. I've also seen some research studies online that cite e.coli as another beneficial probiotic species.

My GI's take is that probiotics may be of a benefit, but that there isn't enough good research to understand how to use them best.

I know a lot of posts have addressed this in the past, but I thought a thread to discuss specifics- what species, what dosages, was in order. If anybody has links to any research regarding probiotics and UC, I'd love a link to the info!

Erika, I tried VSL#3 first because there was some research showing that it was effective. In addition to being inconvenient to take and very expensive, it gave me horrid gas and cramping. Now I take Natures Way Primidophilus Reuteri. It's one capsule a day, easy and convenient. It contains l. rhamnosus, l. reuteri and l. acidophilus. An added bonus is that it costs me about 30 cents a day.

I have just bought the following, though I've no idea of the amounts or contents are any good!!!

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?Pid=753&CPid=809&np=1

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?Pid=5&CPid=430&np=1

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?Pid=146&CPid=581&np=1

if anyone knows of they are any good/bad, I'd be grateful to you.

I like Natren probiotics in both powder and capsules.

great timing you guys! thanks for starting it Erika - I have been trying to research this for the past 3 days. I have found medical journal abstracts that say they don't help, but a lot of UC/Crohn's sufferers seem to think they do help. Seems that VSL#3 is highly recommended and used in a lot of trials, but I find lots of references to it in the forums saying that people don't do well with it. Several people seem to do well with the Enzymedica Pro Bio and the Nature's Way Primadophilus Reuteri. I also found information (will see if i can find the link) about probiotics in fermented food working better because of the complimentary yeasts and such in the food - that don't come in the pill/powder form - these were specifically homemade yogurt, kefir & saurkraut - the homemade versions ferment correctly and completely....so - that is my research so far....will get back with links if I can find them again.

This is a quick summary for IBD and probiotics from a prof. (Huffnagle) that did a fair amount of research on the subject:

Significant number of clinical and research studies
Genus	Species	Strain	(one) manuf.
Lactobacillus	casei	Shirota	Yakult (food)
Lactobacillus	plantarum	299v
Lactobacillus	rhamnosus	GG	Culturelle
Saccharomyces	boulardii	lyo	Florastor
VSL#3
Very promising clinical and research studies
Bifideobacterium	infantis	35624
Lactobacillus	salivarius	UCC118
Lactobacillus	salivarius	433118

I know there is much more out there, but a good list nonetheless.  Either pubmed or google scholar is a good way to get an abstract or summary.  The results could vary by a number of factors, even getting a slightly different strain.

Now the crazy part.  I take Florastor, Garden of Life (might take this one out), Pro-bio, Ultimate Flora, Ultimate Probiotic 12/12 Formula Primadophilus Reuteri powder and recently bought Natren's Healthy Trinity.  Still discovering what works for me.  I also eat yogurt, kefir, cheese.  The thing with VSL3 is that some of the studies required double the dose of what the manuf. suggests for 2 or 3 months, so go fig.

It is also quite possible the immune response may be confusing normally benign bacteria with bad ones.  Not fully understood at this point, but probiotics (the right ones, which may be person specific) seem very promising.

KEFIR

Kefir grains grow in milk over and over.

Over 20 good bacteria and over 10 yeast in the KEFIR.
It has all the mentioned above and more of it.
No probiotic pill you buy has the numbers kefir does and
KEFIR also has yeast and I do not think any probiotic pill has.
Also you can get free Kefir grains. There is a web sight with world wide
list of people willing to share extra KEFIR grains. Also there is KEFIR yahoo group
for giving away FREE kefir grains.

So get more probiotics and get them FREE.

I have the web adresses so if you want it email me.
Steve