Clinical Efficacy of Probiotic Therapy on Bowel-Related Symptoms in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis during Endoscopic Remission: An Observational Study

BACKGROUND: A substantial percentage of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) have irritable bowel syndrome- (IBS-) like symptoms despite adequate treatment and endoscopic remission. In this study, we evaluated the clinical efficacy of probiotic therapy for residual IBS-like symptoms in patients with UC in endoscopic remission. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, observational study between April 2018 and December 2020 across two university hospitals in Korea. Patients with UC whose IBS-like symptoms persisted during endoscopic remission were included in this study. Endoscopic remission was defined as a Mayo endoscopic score ≤ 1, and IBS-like symptoms were defined as those meeting the ROME-IV diagnostic criteria. A Biotop capsule® (Lactobacillus acidophilus, 75 mg; Clostridium butyricum TO-A, 25 mg; Bacillus mesentericus TO-A, 25 mg; and Streptococcus faecalis T-110, 5 mg) was administered three times daily for one month. All patients completed bowel-related symptom questionnaires and short inflammatory bowel disease questionnaires (SIBDQs) at the start and end of the 4-week treatment period. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients were enrolled and analyzed. Statistically significant improvements from baseline were observed at the end of the 4-week treatment. The total SIBDQ score improved from 50.6 to 53.6 (P = 0.005). SIBDQ scores of bowel function (P = 0.018), systemic function (P = 0.040), and social function (P = 0.005) improved. Stool frequency and Bristol stool scale scores improved after probiotic therapy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that probiotic administration improved bowel-related symptoms and quality of life in patients with UC whose IBS-like symptoms persisted during endoscopic remission. As this is an observational study and has no placebo-controlled arm, further prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these results.