Any Benefit of Probiotics for Autoimmune Gastrointestinal Diseases?

Year 2012, Volume: 4 Issue: 4, 1 - 17, 15.12.2012

Oner Ozdemir

Abstract

Probiotic use as capable preventive and therapeutic strategy in different diseases varying from allergic to autoimmune disease has recently been reported. Three interacting factors including an aberrant intestinal microbiota, a 'leaky' intestinal mucosal barrier, and altered intestinal immune responsiveness have been suggested to be able to create a ''perfect environment'' for autoimmune disease development. Regulation of intestinal microflora composition by probiotics offers the possibility to influence the development of mucosal/systemic immunity besides autoimmune diseases. Although there is a large amount of conflicting data on the preventive/therapeutic effects of probiotics in ADs; there is fairly promising evidence to recommend as well. Thus, probiotic use cannot be generally recommended for primary prevention and therapy of ADs for now.

Keywords

Probiotics, autoimmune disease, hygiene hypothesis, yogurt, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis