Synbiotic therapy: a promising new adjunctive therapy for ulcerative colitis.
Prebiotic and probiotic therapies are new strategies being used to treat gastrointestinal diseases. Recent evidence suggests that the administration of select prebiotics and probiotics, alone or in combination (the latter called "synbiotic" therapy) may improve the clinical outcome of patients with ulcerative colitis. We report a case of a pediatric ulcerative colitis patient who showed increased length of remission, resolution of symptoms, and improved quality of life following the administration of synbiotic therapy. The literature supporting the use of prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic therapies in adult ulcerative colitis is also reviewed.
College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Natasha
N
Haskey
Wendy J
WJ
Dahl
D001644:Bifidobacterium; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome