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- Two controlled trials have found that the probiotic E. Coli—a harmless form of the common intestinal bacterium Escheria coli—achieved results comparable to standard drugs used to treat ulcerative colitis.
Evidence is accumulating that "friendly" bacteria called probiotics can safely treat a variety of digestive disorders, including ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The digestive tract plays host to hundreds of microorganisms, which are termed flora. While some cause disease, most perform valuable functions.
Among the potential benefits: Two controlled trials have found that the probiotic E. Coli—a harmless form of the common intestinal bacterium Escheria coli—achieved results comparable to standard drugs used to treat ulcerative colitis. In another study presented at a Digestive Disease Week meeting, probiotic therapy with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria infantis (given alone or in combination with antibiotics) significantly improved symptoms and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Both of these microbes use sugar as a food source and in turn generate lactic acid, which inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria.
Other benefits of probiotics exist for treating infectious diarrhea in children and diarrhea associated with antibiotics, and for preventing bacterial infections after surgery.
Because probiotics do not permanently colonize the gastrointestinal tract, they would probably need to be taken indefinitely to maintain any beneficial effects. Although there is a small chance that probiotics could cause an infection, especially in people at high risk for opportunistic infections or in cases where the gastrointestinal tract is badly damaged, the probiotic strains that have been tested appear to be very safe.
However, more research is needed to identify the best probiotic—and the optimal dose—for managing a particular condition. And many experts believe that better regulation of probiotics is needed to ensure that the over-the-counter products now widely available contain viable microorganisms in the amounts stated.
If you want to try probiotic supplements for a few weeks to see if they help with your gastrointestinal symptoms, check with your doctor first. A variety of capsules, liquids, and powders are available. Powders can be stirred into food but shouldn’t be added to food warmer than room temperature because heat will kill the bacteria.
Another option is to add probiotic-containing foods to your diet. These foods include yogurt, kefir (a cultured-milk beverage), tempeh (which is made from soybeans), and kimchi (a Korean fermented cabbage dish). It is unclear whether they contain enough probiotics to have any effect, however.
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