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What is Probiotic and why do you take it?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/1/2009 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
So what is it, should i try it? ive seen it in a few peoples signatures? whats does it do? does it help the healing process?
Posted 9/1/2009 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi... Absolutely, you should try them.

Probiotics are healthy bacteria that help keep the balance of the flora in the colon and digestive tract.

There are so many kinds of probiotics that do different things in different strengths...some work better for some than others....so sometimes it`s a trial and trial again process.

One thing that probiotics need in order to feed on and multiply is fibre or prebiotics.
Some have them in the formulation, others don`t

quincy

Posted 9/1/2009 11:08 AM (GMT 0)
"One thing that probiotics need in order to feed on and multiply is fibre or prebiotics."

Really? I had no idea. Why is this?
Posted 9/1/2009 11:32 AM (GMT 0)
I didn't know that either quincy!

And jazz...I'm very new to all this colitis info but the first thing I started taking was a Probiotic and it is definitely helping me. I don't know if it will help forever but it is helping for now. You may have to try different ones. Some swear that you have to use the refrigerated ones but I could only find the shelf stables ones to start and it's working fine. I would, however go by the old phrase 'you get what you pay for.' Read the threads here re. probiotics, take notes and head to the store, read the labels carefully, make sure there's lots of the good stuff in there. But like everyone here will tell you, it might be trial and error at first.

Good luck!
Posted 9/1/2009 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
The only caveat I would add to quincy's response is to say that a prebiotic need not, and perhaps should not, be part of the formulation of a probiotic. The manufacturer of the probiotic I use (Natren) is quite adamant against the use of prebiotics (such as FOS) in their formulations for reasons that seem reasonable to me (e.g. they can stimulate the growth of undesirable bacteria too).

My personal view is that until researchers can identify a prebiotic/probiotic combination that fosters a healthy gut community, particularly for those of us with whacked out communities, then I will avoid probiotics that contain prebiotics.
Posted 9/1/2009 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
I second ickypoo's comment- I have found through experience that the probiotics that also contain prebiotics (such as FOS) seem to give me less benefit, or even flare me, in comparison with those that don't. That's not to say that some may not benefit from prebiotics.
Posted 9/1/2009 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Great thanks for the replies everyone...Now. which brand,type etc would you recommend? I have a huge healthfood store here that probably has a few different ones.

Probiotic: so basically get one that does not contain a (prebiotic) like FOS.

Quincy: i see you use (RenewLife Ultimate Flora Critical Care

I have no idea what i am talking about but willing to learn.
Posted 9/1/2009 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
I switch around but right now I am using MegaFLora.
Posted 9/1/2009 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
You will get different responses from everyone on what they use as different ones work for different people.

I am using Align and am noticing improvement, but that's me. It is a shelf stable one and is about $30 for a month's worth. I don't know if you are in the US or not but you can get it at drugstores like Walgreens or I've seen it at Wal-Mart as well. You also might check online, maybe people here order them that way and I'm going to look into that as well.

Good luck!
Posted 9/1/2009 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
Most of mine have had FOS....I have had no problem taking any of them, even in larger quantities.

The FOS serves a purpose, specifically.....so I don't think the complaint holds much truth ickypoo.

But, there are many without.

Remember that many people here have nixed carbs....which are the food in which probiotics survive....

q
Posted 9/1/2009 10:13 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking VSL #3. It is potent but pretty expensive. You can find it on the internet. I had a stool test before I was diagnosed with colitis and they said they could find NO beneficial bacteria in my sample. So, that goes to show ya what can go wrong. So many of us have taken way too many antibiotics over our lifetime and it isn't good for the GI tract. So, they probably can't hurt.
Posted 9/2/2009 7:56 AM (GMT 0)
Not interested in waging a war between proponents and opponents of Probiotics but I got my hands on Cochrane Review titled "Probiotics for induction of remission in ulcerative colitis " They found out all studies performed using Probiotics and UC between the period of 1966 and 2006

Long story short, Author's comments are as follows, copied and pasted from the report.

Conventional therapy combined with a probiotic does not improve overall remission rates in patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. However, there is limited evidence that probiotics added to standard therapy may provide modest benefits in terms of reduction of disease activity in patients with mild to moderately severe ulcerative colitis. Whether probiotics are as effective in patients with severe and more extensive disease and whether they can be used as an alternative to existing therapies is unknown. Further well designed, larger
randomised controlled trials are needed to determine whether probiotics can be used as an alternative to current treatment modalities.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY
Probiotics for the treatment of active ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common condition resulting in inflammation of the colon. Current treatments for this condition result in side effects in a significant proportion of patients and consequently alternative treatments are being sought. Probiotics are live microorganisms which have been used to treat other inflammatory conditions such as gastroenteritis and pouchitis. This review investigated the evidence for the use of probiotics for the treatment of active UC. The current research suggests that conventional treatment combined with probiotic therapy does not provide any additional benefit over conventional treatment alone in patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. There is limited evidence that probiotics may reduce disease activity. However there is not enough evidence to recommend the use of probiotics for the treatment of active UC. Larger, well designed randomised controlled trials are needed to determine whether probiotics are of benefit for the treatment of active UC.

If anybody is interested in reading the review, let me know and I will upload it somewhere.
Posted 9/2/2009 11:16 AM (GMT 0)
One can dig up scientific articles that paint a much more positive picture on the efficacy of probiotics in treating UC. Plus there is a good deal of anecdotal evidence of people deriving benefit from their use.

The bottom line, though, is that more research is needed to derive any firm conclusions - as is made clear in the Cochrane Review article. Hopefully we will get some definitive answers in the not too distant future.
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