title: Probiotic treatment of collagenous colitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Probiotic treatment may be effective in diseases involving gut microflora and intestinal inflammation. In collagenous colitis (CC), a potential pathogenic role of the gut microflora has been proposed. The effect of probiotic treatment in CC is unknown. Our aim was to investigate the clinical effect of treatment with Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 (AB-Cap-10) in patients with CC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with CC and diarrhea were in a double-blind placebo-controlled study randomized (2:1) to AB-Cap-10 or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary end point was reduction in bowel frequency per week of >or=50%. Secondary end points were changes in bowel frequencies, stool consistency, stool weight, histopathology, and abdominal bloating and pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine patients were randomized: 21 to probiotics and 8 to placebo. Reduction in bowel frequency per week of >or=50% occurred in 6 of 21 (29%) and in 1 of 8 (13%) patients receiving probiotic and placebo, respectively (P = 0.635). No differences between treatments were observed regarding the secondary end points. Post hoc analysis showed a median reduction in bowel frequency per week from 32 (range 18-84) to 23 (range 11-56; P < 0.005), a reduction in number of days with liquid stools per week from 6 days (range 0-7 days) to 1 day (range 0-7 days; P < 0.005), and an increase in number of days with solid stools per week (P < 0.05) in the AB-Cap-10 group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AB-Cap-10 had no significant effect on the chosen end points. Post hoc analysis demonstrated amelioration of clinical symptoms in the AB-Cap-10 group, indicating that probiotic treatment may potentially influence the disease course of CC.
authors: Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Hvidovre Hospital, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. siw@dadlnet.dk
authors: Signe
authors: S
authors: Wildt
authors: Lars K
authors: LK
authors: Munck
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Vinter-Jensen
authors: Birgit Fischer
authors: BF
authors: Hanse
authors: Inge
authors: I
authors: Nordgaard-Lassen
authors: Steen
authors: S
authors: Christensen
authors: Soeren
authors: S
authors: Avnstroem
authors: Sten Noerby
authors: SN
authors: Rasmussen
authors: Jüri J
authors: JJ
authors: Rumessen