Earlier study results have been inconsistent. In this study, researchers from Nippon Medical School in Tokyo use higher doses to treat active Crohn’s disease (CD).

First, the details.

• 10 adults with active CD but no history of surgery for CD were studied for 13 months.
• Their main symptoms were diarrhea and abdominal pain that did not respond to initial treatment of aminosalicylates and prednisolone.
• Synbiotic therapy consisted of probiotics (75 billion colony forming units [CFU] daily) and prebiotics (psyllium 9.9 g daily).
• Probiotics mainly comprised Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.
• Patients were free to adjust their intake of probiotics or prebiotics.

By the end of therapy, each patient had taken about 45 billion CFU daily probiotic dose; 6 patients took an additional 8 g daily psyllium dose.

And, the results.

• 7 had improved symptoms following combined pre/probiotic therapy.
• Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI), and the International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IOIBD) score were significantly reduced after therapy.
• 6 patients had a complete response.
• One had a partial response
• 3 were non-responders.
• 2 patients were able to discontinue their prednisolone therapy, while 4 decreased their intake.
• There were no adverse events.

The bottom line?
This study addresses an important issue in pro/pre/synbiotic research — dosing. The results were positive and support more research in this area.

8/16/07 22:31 JR