Science

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to chronic diseases that cause inflammation of the intestines, including ulcerative colitis (inflammatory disease of the large intestine) and Crohn's disease (inflammatory disease of the small intestine and parts of the large intestine).

Preliminary studies suggest that administration of probiotics may be of benefit for IBD. Introduction of probiotics can balance the abnormal bacteria in the gut in IBD sufferers and reinforce the immunity against the growth of bad bacteria.¹⁶

Although initial studies are clearly promising, further comparative trials are needed to clarify the role of probiotic bacteria in IBD. The choice of probiotic bacteria, the optimal dose, how it is taken and duration of therapy still need to be established. Detailed analysis is required for all potential probiotic strains, as different strains may have different effects. Increasingly, research suggests that probiotics may offer an alternative to, or be able to add to, usual therapy by supporting the good bacteria and the immune system in the intestines.¹⁷