probiotic

My GI, who works at a US Ivy League teaching hospital, promotes probiotics because of their efficacy in clinical trials.

But I was taking them before I started with this GI. They do clearly help me. My theory (though I'm no scientist) is that our UC is caused by several different things, and that for some of us it's a bacterial imbalance that probiotics do help.

My highly unscientific theory is based on reading the good thinking and experiences of the wonderful people here, who are helped by a variety of different things: some by immunosuppressants, some by diet modification, some by bacterial therapy (oral probiotics, fecal transplants, etc.)

The majority of research shows that probiotics are more beneficial than not, it's just a matter of finding the right one that works for you...I hate it when docs are close-minded, that's usually when I go find another GI/doc.

I can honestly say that for me probiotics have been a benefit and I will continue to take them indefinitely.

Thanks for all your replies. Glad to see probiotics worked/working for you. My doctors do not believe, as they show me the following 2 paragraphs from "European evidence-based Consensus on the management of ulcerative colitis". It is a bit long. be patient to read through.

6.2.4.1. Other probiotics. No other probiotic has been subject
to properly powered RCTs. When 100 ml/day of fermented
milk containing Bifidobacterium bifidum YIT 4007, B. breve YIT
4065, and L. acidophilus YIT 0168 was given to 21 UC patients
over 1 year,277 neither investigators nor patients were blinded,
and other treatments could be administered. There were fewer
relapses in the treatment arm (27% in the milk group vs 90% in
the controls), but no differences in endoscopic lesions.Another
group of 187 patients with UC in remission for less than
12 months were randomised to receive either Lactobacillus GG
18×109 viable bacteria/day, 5-ASA 2.4 g/day, or the combination.
278 There were no differences in sustained clinical or
endoscopic remission rates at 6 and 12 months between the
three treatment groups. In a post-hoc analysis, however,
treatment with Lactobacillus GG appeared to prolong the
relapse-free time compared to 5-ASA. Relapse rates at
12 months were 136/10,000 person-months on Lactobacillus
GG alone and 181/10 000 person-months on 5-ASA (p=0.01).
Further studies are needed.


6.2.5.3. Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil). Preparations
containing omega-3 fatty acids and eicosapentaenoïc acid in
particular,may have anti-inflammatory properties by reducing
the production of leucotriene B4
286,287 Several studies have
been conducted in UC with different formulations and dosing
of n-3 fatty acids.288–296 Only three randomized controlled
trials were selected for a Cochrane meta-analysis published
after the Consensus,297 which included 138 UC patients who
were in remission at the time of recruitment.291,293,294 The
pooled analysis showed a similar relapse rate in the n-3 treated
patients and controls (RR 1.02, 95%CI 0.51–2.03, p=0.96). No
significant adverse events were recorded.