info@burtsrx.com
Crohn’s disease affects roughly 780,000 people in the United States, and it affects each one differently, requiring treatment to be personalized as well. As a known anti-inflammatory, probiotics for Crohn’s disease are becoming a popular treatment method.
Crohn’s is an auto-immune mediated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affecting virtually every aspect of the gastrointestinal tract (from the mouth to the anus). Some patients who suffer from this devastating illness also develop systemic symptoms, including:
- Skin rashes
- Problems with vision
- Joint pain
Because Crohn’s also affects the ability to digest nutrients from food, many sufferers also struggle with vitamin deficiencies and/or malnutrition. This can lead to a host of problems ranging from deep, unrelenting fatigue to serious or even fatal organ failure, especially if the disease isn’t treated.
Treatment Options for Crohn’s Disease
The good news is that Crohn’s sufferers now have more treatment options available to them than ever before.
Drugs can be the difference between life and death for patients, but they aren’t without side effects. These include:
Other options, including lifestyle and diet changes, may help.
If you suffer from Crohn’s, you may have also heard that prebiotics and probiotics can help you manage your symptoms. But what exactly are these supplemental food products, and are they really beneficial?
What to Know About Healthy Gut Flora
The science behind gut flora is actually much more complex than we can explain in a single post. For now, what matters most is that you understand how important healthy gut flora is to gastrointestinal functioning.
To understand prebiotics and probiotics, we must first explore the role of bacteria in the gut and how it affects digestion.
While many of us fear the word “bacteria” because we associate it with infection and illness, the world of microorganisms is much more complex.
Some bacteria are harmful, while others are harmless and have absolutely no impact on the human body at all.
“Good” Bacteria
Beneficial bacteria, on the other hand, are virtually required in order for our bodies to function normally, especially within the gut.
Not only do they support gastrointestinal structure and health, but they also help you digest and break down your food so you can metabolize nutrients or process other ingredients (e.g., medication).
Without healthy gut flora, digestion takes a very serious and immediate hit. Your ability to process food suffers, leaving you at risk for nutritional deficiencies, and the gastrointestinal tract loses efficiency.
Over time, this may worsen or even lead to some of the symptoms associated with Crohn’s Disease.
What Exactly are Prebiotics and Probiotics?
Prebiotics are dietary fibers that directly support healthy gut bacteria levels by providing them with nutrition for optimal functioning. Think of them like groceries for the healthy bacteria inside your gut.
Probiotics, on the other hand, are live bacteria (such as lactobacillus acidophilus or bifidobacterium infantis). When ingested, these cultures directly supplement the level of beneficial bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract.
Both prebiotics and probiotics play an important role in healthy digestion; neither can function without the other.
You could take all of the probiotics in the world and still never benefit if you aren’t ingesting enough prebiotics to keep them fed.
What Does the Science Say About Probiotics for Crohn’s Disease?
We know that healthy gut flora plays an important role in digestive health, and better digestive health is important for everyone.
It is especially critical for people who suffer from inflammatory bowel conditions. Anything that causes irritation or forces the gastrointestinal tract to work harder than it should can raise the risk for a flare.
It makes sense to assume that taking prebiotics and probiotics for better gut health is a wise choice for IBD sufferers.
But what does the science say?
Is there any evidence to support this being a safe, smart choice, or is it mostly woo?
1. Variables May Influence Usefulness
Science does support the role of probiotics in overall gut health. In fact, there are countless studies that demonstrate a direct correlation.
What researchers aren’t yet certain of is whether or not the type or route of ingestion makes a difference in whether or not these substances have any measurable impact.
To clarify, let’s get specific.
- Studies have shown a measurable difference in results gained from, say, taking an over-the-counter probiotic and having a direct fecal transplant from a healthy patient to an unhealthy patient.
- Similarly, taking certain probiotics may be more effective than eating dessert yogurts.
This is further complicated by the fact that not every source of probiotic contains the same type of bacteria.
Essentially, whether or not probiotics for Crohn’s Disease are helpful really depends on which bacteria you’re deficient in and which source you’re using.
2. Probiotics for Crohn’s Disease
Regarding Crohn’s, study results have been mixed and extremely nuanced. The short answer is that more research is needed, but we have enough evidence to support probiotics as a possible treatment avenue.
Some of the most compelling science shows that probiotics for Crohn’s may be more useful when it affects certain areas of the bowel (such as the colon versus the ileum). It isn’t clear exactly why this is the case, but it might be a result of natural differences in bacteria colonization throughout the bowel.
– Probiotics for Biofilms
Some Crohn’s patients develop problematic biofilms of bad bacteria along the intestinal wall. These biofilms can lead to a worsening of symptoms because:
- They cause additional inflammation
- It can cause a flare or faster bowel degeneration
A new novel probiotic may help prevent or even eliminate these biofilms, leading to a reduction of symptoms.
Mahmoud A. Ghannoum, a professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, believes this approach may have other benefits, too.
“A probiotic can prevent and treat biofilms that are found in the gut,” he explains. “This is a big issue since gut biofilm correlates with Crohn’s disease and colorectal cancer.”
– Probiotics for Pouchitis
There is also evidence that taking certain probiotics may help to prevent pouchitis, an inflammation in the lining of a j-pouch or ileostomy.
Although this is typically only applicable to patients who have had surgery to redirect one or more areas of the bowel, it is an incredibly important topic.
Pouchitis can be extremely serious and prevention is far easier than treatment once it occurs.
Conclusions
Specific types or conditions aside, taking probiotics for Crohn’s may still be beneficial for patients. Patients in other studies reported:
- Fewer flares
- Less pain
- An overall improvement in digestion
The main risks associated with taking probiotics are diarrhea, gas, bloating, cramps, acne, and rarely, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). However, these risks are relatively rare.
If you think that probiotics may be helpful for you, contact our pharmacy today.
