Impact of probiotics on colonic microflora in patients with colitis

B. S. Reddy, J. Ahmed, J. Macfie, Lars Mølbak, T. D. Leser

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    Abstract

    Background: Probiotics colonise the gut and may exert beneficial effects. The aim of this study was to assess if probiotics change the spectrum of colonic microflora in patients with colitis when taken daily for a period of one month Methods: This is a prospective double blind randomised crossover study. Patients randomised to Group A received placebo for one month followed by probiotics for another month. Patients randomised to Group B received Probiotics during the first month followed by placebo in the next month. Stool samples were collected at the start, end of first and second month of study. Terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique (T-RFLP) and principal component analysis (PCA) on the bacterial community were used to study the faecal mircoflora. Results: Sixteen patients completed the study, 8 had Crohn’s disease and 8 had ulcerative colitis. Median age was 62 years (IQR 50–65). An average of 22 T-RF’s was identified in each patient. Dice cluster analysis showed that each patient had a unique microbial spectrum and did not change significantly at different points in the study in both groups. T-RF 102bp potential representing Bacteroides fragilis was the only band that consistently reduced in concentration during treatment with probiotics but not placebo. The difference was not statistically significant due to small numbers of patients in the study. Conclusion: Use of Probiotics is associated with a reduction in prevalence of Bacteroides fragilis in patients with colitis. This observation might have clinical implications.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalBritish Journal of Surgery
    Volume97
    Issue numberS2
    Number of pages32
    ISSN0007-1323
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010
    EventAssociation of Surgeons of Great Britain & Ireland 2010 International Surgical Congress, ‘The Challenges of Surgery,’ - Liverpool, United Kingdom
    Duration: 14 Apr 201016 Apr 2010

    Conference

    ConferenceAssociation of Surgeons of Great Britain & Ireland 2010 International Surgical Congress, ‘The Challenges of Surgery,’
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    CityLiverpool
    Period14/04/201016/04/2010

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