title: Probiotics and prebiotics in ulcerative colitis.
abstract: The intestinal microbiota is one of the key players in the etiology of ulcerative colitis. Manipulation of this microflora with probiotics and prebiotics is an attractive strategy in the management of ulcerative colitis. Several intervention studies for both the induction and maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis patients have been performed. Most of these studies evaluated VSL#3 or E. Coli Nissle 1917 and in general there is evidence for efficacy of these agents for induction and maintenance of remission. However, studies are frequently underpowered, lack a control group, and are very heterogeneous investigating different probiotic strains in different study populations. The absence of well-powered robust randomized placebo-controlled trials impedes the widespread use of probiotics and prebiotics in ulcerative colitis. However, given the promising results that are currently available, probiotics and prebiotics may find their way to the treatment algorithm for ulcerative colitis in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centre, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Lauranne.Derikx@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Lauranne A A P
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Derikx
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: Levinus A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Dieleman
authors.affiliation: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centre, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Frank.Hoentjen@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hoentjen
mesh_terms: D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D056692:Prebiotics / Q000382:microbiology*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D056692:Prebiotics
keywords: Microbiota; Prebiotics; Probiotics; Ulcerative colitis