Inflamm Bowel Dis
Are prebiotics an effective treatment for IBD?
Prebiotics, particularly fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and germinated barley foodstuff, show potential as effective and safe dietary supplements for induction and maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis (UC), respectively (very low certainty of evidence). Authors call for further investigation into the role that prebiotics may play in the management of IBD.
- Seventeen RCTs or prospective observational studies comparing a prebiotic with a placebo or lower-dose control in patients with IBD were included.
- For induction of clinical remission in UC, the FOS kestose was effective (relative risk [RR], 2.75, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-7.20; n = 40), but oligofructose-enriched inulin (OF-IN) and lactulose weren't.
- For maintenance of remission in UC, germinated barley foodstuff trended toward preventing clinical relapse (RR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.15-1.03; n = 59), but OF-IN, oat bran, and Plantago ovata didn't.
- For Crohn disease, OF-IN and lactulose were no different than controls for induction of remission, and FOS was no different than controls for maintenance of remission. Flatulence and bloating were more common with OF-IN; adverse events were otherwise similar to controls for other prebiotics.
Source:
Limketkai BN, et al. (2024, May 23). Inflamm Bowel Dis. Prebiotics for Induction and Maintenance of Remission in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38781004/