title: Intestinal microflora as a therapeutic target in inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: Although the causes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remain incompletely understood, increasing evidence implicates intestinal microflora in the pathogenesis of these disorders. Alteration of intestinal flora therefore may offer a plausible therapeutic approach. Although recent data support a potential therapeutic role for probiotics and prebiotics in patients with IBD, such treatments need to be further assessed by large, double-blind controlled trials. A better understanding of the intestinal microflora and the mechanisms of their action may help us to develop more effective treatment for IBD.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume 830-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitsuyama
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toyonaga
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents