Faculty Sponsor

Professor Jana Stedman

College

College of Nursing & Health Professions (CONHP)

Department/Program

Physician Assistant Program

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Symposium Date

Summer 7-24-2025

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness of daily probiotic supplementation as an adjunct to standard therapy in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), focusing on symptom frequency, intensity, and potential for achieving or maintaining remission.

Methods: A structured literature review was conducted using Medline via EBSCO, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Search terms included “Inflammatory Bowel Disease,” “IBD,” “Crohn’s disease,” “ulcerative colitis,” “probiotics,” and related terms. From 1,616 Medline results, 12 relevant articles were selected; PubMed yielded 30 focused on randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses, and a representative sample was reviewed from 17,500 Google Scholar results. Included studies involved IBD patients receiving 5-Aminosalisylic Acid (5-ASA) therapy (with or without short-term corticosteroids) alongside daily probiotics. Exclusion criteria were coexisting GI disorders, use of immunosuppressants or long-term steroids, probiotic monotherapy, and animal studies. Key outcomes included symptom reduction and improved quality of life (QOL).

Results: Probiotics appear to modulate gut microbiota and reduce inflammation through cytokine regulation. Evidence supports limited effectiveness in Crohn’s disease, but consistent symptom improvement in ulcerative colitis. Benefits included reduced stool frequency, rectal bleeding, and abdominal pain, as well as mucosal healing confirmed via endoscopy and histology.

Conclusion: Adjunctive probiotic therapy shows promise in managing ulcerative colitis symptoms when used with standard treatment, though it appears less effective for Crohn’s disease. Probiotics may enhance remission maintenance in ulcerative colitis. Further high-quality, large-scale studies are recommended.

Keywords: inflammatory bowel disease, crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, probiotics, adjunctive therapy, gut microbiome, symptom management

Biographical Information about Author(s)

Benjamin Sommers has special interests in cardiology and gastroenterology, with plans to return to Grand Rapids Michigan to pursue a career as a hospitalist PA. He will be presenting "Symptomatic Reduction in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Benefits of Adjuvant Probiotic Supplementation" because in his future practice he hopes to promote maximizing patient comfort while minimizing necessary therapies.

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