When you hear the word "bacteria," it probably conjures up images of deadly diseases or, at the very least, detrimental symptoms, but your gastrointestinal tract is home to a host of bacteria that are your allies in health. Sometimes due to illness or the effects of antibiotics, these bacterial populations are decimated and need replenishment. According to USProbiotics.org, probiotics are microbes that confer beneficial health effects when consumed alive. These effects are often evident in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, such as colitis.
Discovery of Probiotics
In 1907, Nobel laureate Elie Metchnikov noted that Bulgarians lived notably long and healthy lives, an effect he attributed to their consumption of yogurt, which contains what are now identified as probiotic bacteria. Since that time acknowledgment of the benefits of probiotics has grown to nearly mainstream global proportions. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has defined probiotics as "live micro-organisms administered in adequate amounts which confer a beneficial health effect on the host."
Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is sometimes referred to as inflammatory bowel disease. It's a bit of a mysterious ailment, and the exact cause is unknown. Genetic factors, compromised immunity and environmental triggers may contribute to the occurrence of the disorder. What is clear is that ulcerative colitis occurs when an immune response goes awry, leading to a vicious cycle of inflammation, which increases antibody activity that then causes even more inflammation. If you have colitis, you may experience symptoms such as diarrhea, rectal bleeding, painful defecation and cramps, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Probiotic Therapy
One school of thought regarding colitis is that its origins may rise from the presence of a pathogenic microbial community within the colon. This may explain the positive results several researchers have discovered when probiotics are used to treat colitis. In 2010, the journal "Annals of Pharmacotherapy" published research conducted at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital indicating that probiotics help prolong periods of remission from the disease and decrease the risk of relapse. Similar results were found in research published in the "World Journal of Gastroenterology" in 2004, the "American Journal of Gastroenterology" in 2005 and the "European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology" in 2003.
Probiotic Types
Different strains of probiotics result in different effects, and not all probiotics may be effective as a therapy for ulcerative colitis. The aforementioned studies explored specific strains such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii, as well as probiotic mixtures such as VSL3 and BIFICO. Consult your doctor if you are interested in using probiotics.
References
- USProbiotics.org: Probiotic Basics
- Annals of Pharmacotherapy: Probiotics for Maintaining Remission of Ulcerative Colitis in Adults
- European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology: A Pilot Trial of Saccharomyces Boulardii in Ulcerative Colitis
- American Journal of Gastroenterology: VSL3 Probiotic-Mixture Induces Remission in Patients with Active Ulcerative Colitis
- World Journal of Gastroenterology: Effects of Probiotic on Intestinal Mucosa of Patients with Ulcerative Colitis
