Efficacia di un nutraceutico ad azione probiotica e prebiotica associato a dieta controllata e idrocolonterapia nel trattamento del dismicrobismo intestinale sintomatico

BACKGROUND: Probiotics are usually administered for the treatment of gastrointestinal and immune diseases, such as chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), intestinal bowel syndrome (IBS), and vaginal infections. This anecdotal spontaneous observational clinical study investigates the efficacy of a probiotic formulation composed by L. rhamnosus (LRH11), L. acidophilus (LA5) and B. lactis (BB12) enriched with short-chain fructose-oligosaccharides (FOS), in association with an individually tailored balanced diet and hydro-colon therapy, for the treatment of Crohn’s Disease, IBS, diverticulitis, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. METHODS: Forty-five patients were enrolled at the second opinion Network, in Modena, Italy. Patients were administered 2 capsules/day for 3 months of the galenic formulation (1 capsule in the morning before having breakfast and 1 capsule in the evening before going to bed), and to follow a proper diet during the probiotic intake. Before starting the treatment and at the end of the study the concentration of faecal calprotectin (index of gut inflammation) was tested in order to assess intestinal inflammation by a quantitative rapid test points of care (POC) system and urinary indican and skatole concentration (for gut disbiosis), by colorimetric and liquid chromatography method, respectively. Furthermore, 7 patients affected by recent severe constipation and pain were submitted to one session of hydro colon-therapy to clean the gut, before starting the treatment. RESULTS: after three months of treatment, urinary indican and faecal calprotectin values significantly decreased (P=0.005 and P=0.00 respectively), and clinical symptoms (evaluated by Scott-Huskisson scale) improved. CONCLUSIONS: the association of our probiotic/prebiotic formulation with a balanced diet and hydro-colon therapy, when required, was effective to improve inflammation and disbiosis in patients affected by Crohn’s Disease, IBS, diverticulitis, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, without side effects.