Probiotics as Anti-Inflammatory Agents in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Abstract

Studies involving manipulation of intestinal microflora with probiotic species have suggested potential effectiveness in multiple gastrointestinal diseases including inflammatory bowel diseases. Resulting benefits of probiotics include competitively excluding pathogens, improvement of mucosal barrier function, and hence maintaining the gut homeostasis and modulating the immune system by inducing the release of cytokines. Few lactobacillus strains are also known to modulate the perception of pain by inducing effects similar to that of morphine in the intestinal epithelial cells. Probiotic products like VSL#3 (Bifidobacterium longum, B. breve, B. infantis, Lactobacillus plantarum, L. acidophilus, L. paracasei, L. bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus), Culturelle (L. rhamnosus GG), Florastor (S. boulardii), Align (B. infantis), DanActive (L. casei), Mutaflor (E. coli Nissle 1917) are current examples of treatments. Probiotics are also increasingly being added in dairy as well as non-dairy products like drinks, yoghurts, etc. Most studies regarding the anti-inflammatory effects of probiotics are preliminary and seem promising but require further clinical trials. There is also scope for studies on the dosage, duration of therapies, ways of administration, and strain combinations.