Latest Probiotic Crohn’s Studies (2023)
According to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, Crohn's disease may affect as many as 780,000 Americans but the exact cause of IBD is not known. Crohn's can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life so trying probiotics is a popular topic.
The gut-brain connection has been studied extensively in recent years and some researchers have explosred the role of gut bacteria in the development and progression of IBD. This guide will take a closer look at the current research on the use of probiotics as a treatment for IBD, specifically looking at Crohn's disease.
Gut Bacteria & Crohn's Connection
This study reviewed the current clinical evidence for the use of probiotics in the treatment of Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract and is often characterized by an imbalance in gut bacteria, known as dysbiosis.
The study suggests that altering the microbiome through various methods, such as diet, antibiotics, probiotics and faecal microbial transplantation, is being explored as a way to treat active Crohn's disease or maintain remission induced by surgery or medications.
However, the study concludes that there is currently insufficient evidence to support the use of probiotics in the management of Crohn's disease. The study also highlights the need for more research to align the pathogenic mechanism of the disease with the actions of specific probiotics and to determine the appropriate dose and duration of probiotic therapy for Crohn's disease patients.
Probiotics For Crohn's Studies
Based on this meta-analysis, the available evidence is uncertain about the efficacy of probiotics for treatment of Crohn's disease. The meta-analysis included only two studies with a total of 46 participants, and the overall risk of bias was low in one study and unclear in the other. Another study I found, suggested there could be theraputic benefits from Lactobacillus probiotics through their anti-inflammatory effects.
The results of the meta-analysis showed no evidence of a difference between probiotics and placebo for the induction of remission in CD after six months, and no difference in adverse events between the two groups. The authors of the meta-analysis concluded that there is a lack of well-designed RCTs in this area and more research is needed to determine the effectiveness of probiotics for Crohn's disease.
Probiotic's For Crohn's Reddit Threads
The official subreddit for discussing Crohn's disease was created in 2010 and currently has over 40,000+ members who regularly discuss all things related to the condition. In 2010, a thread was started asking about people's experiences with probiotics for Crohn's disease. The first reply was from a Redditor with a name too rude to share said they had Crohn's disease since 2004 and had taken probiotics for a couple of weeks before falling out of the rhythm and it did good for them with less gas and discomfort. They suggested trying them out and seeing for oneself.
Another Redditor, mrothlein, shared that their doctor, a prominent Crohn's specialist and educator at the local hospitals and universities, recommends two brands called VSL3 and Florastor but that they had equal success with a more affordable brand called PB8. I haven't tried any of these brands personally. Other Redditors shared their experience with probiotics, some found it helpful while others didn't see any improvement. Overall, it appears that the effectiveness of probiotics for Crohn's disease varies from person to person.
Can Probiotics Make Crohn's Worse?
It's clear that there isn't enough clinical research to definitively answer the question of whether probiotics can make Crohn's worse because we don't even know if they can make Crohn's better. Different types of probiotics, like saccharomyces boulardii, a type of yeast, could react differently from other types of probiotics, like Lactobacillus or Bifidobacteria.
Allergies could also play a role in determining whether or not probiotics make Crohn's worse for someone. If you have Crohn's and are considering taking probiotics, it is important to talk to your doctor first and remember that probiotics are not a treatment or cure for Crohn's disease.
Closing Thoughts
From my analysis the use of probiotics as a treatment for Crohn's disease is a topic that clearly requires more human clinical trials. The current research I read it's clearly inconclusive but there does seem to be potential for theraputic benefits with strains like Lactobacillus Reuteri.
Keep in mind that probiotics can have different effects on different individuals, and that different strains of probiotics may have different benefits. If you have Crohn's and are considering taking probiotics, it is important to consult with a doctor first, as probiotics are not a treatment or cure for Crohn's disease. If you are immunocompromised don't take probiotics without talking to a doctor first.