Effects of lactobacillus casei probiotic on mild to moderate ulcerative colitis: a placebo controlled study

<p class="ABS"><span class="ABS_Bold-Italic" lang="en-GB">Background:</span> The effects of probiotics on ulcerative colitis has still remained a contraversy. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Lactobacillus casei strain ATCC PTA-3945 in treating ulcerative colitis. <span class="ABS_Bold-Italic" lang="en-GB">Materials and Methods:</span> Thirty four patients with mild to moderately active ulcerative colitis randomly received a probiotic preparation of L. casei strain ATCC PTA-3945 (n = 17) or its placebo (n = 17) plus conventional medical therapy for their active disease. After a maximum of 2 months, remitted patients were again randomised to receive L. casei strain ATCC PTA-3945 or placebo, and also maintained on mesalazine or sulfasalazine tablets for a maximum of 6 months.<span class="ABS_Bold-Italic" lang="en-GB"> Results:</span> The numbers of patients achieving remission did not statistically differ between probiotic and placebo groups (82% vs. 76% at intention to treat analysis [P = 1.00], and 100% vs. 81.2% at per-protocol analysis [P = 0.23], respectively). The mean time to clinical remission were 25 days and 32 days in probiotic and placebo groups, respectively (P = 0.11). Relapse rates also did not significantly differ between probiotic and placebo groups (14.3% vs. 26.7% at ITT analysis [P = 0.65] and 16.7% vs. 33.3% [P = 0.64], respectively). Mean time to relapse were 96 days and 74 days in the probiotic and the placebo group, respectively (P = 0.51). <span class="ABS_Bold-Italic" lang="en-GB">Conclusion:</span> The results of this preliminary study showed no significant effect by using L. casei strain ATCC PTA-3945 probiotic in the treatment of ulcerative colitis patients.</p><div> </div>