Actual concept of "probiotics": Is it more functional to science or business?

Table 2 Results of clinical trials with probiotics in ulcerative colitis

Ref.	Patients (n)	Duration of therapy	Probiotic strains	Dose (CFU/d)	Outcomes
Kruis et al[118]	120	12 wk	Escherichia coli Nissle 1917	50 × 1010	Maintaining the remission (similar to 5-ASA)
Rembacken et al[119]	116	1 yr	Escherichia coli Nissle 1917	5 × 1010	Induction of remission (similar to 5-ASA); maintaining of relapses (similar to 5-ASA)
Venturi et al[120]	20	1 yr	VSL3®	5 × 10¹¹	Maintaining the remission
Ishikawa et al[121]	21	1 yr	Milk with bifidobacteria	10 × 108	Maintaining the remission
Guslandi et al[122]	25	4 wk	Saccharomyces boulardii	250 mg × 3	Induction of remission
Kruis et al[123]	327	1 yr	Escherichia coli Nissle 1917	2.5-25 × 109	Induction of remission (5-ASA better than probiotic)
Tursi et al[124]	90	8 wk	Balsalazide/VSL3®	900 × 108	Induction of remission
Cui et al[125]	30	8 wk	Bifidobacteria	1.26 g/d	Maintaining of remission
Kato et al[126]	20	12 wk	Bifidobacterium-fermented milk vs placebo	109	CDAI lower in Bifidobacterium fermented milk that in placebo
Furrie et al[127]	18	4 wk	Bifidobacterium longum + prebiotic (Synergy 1)	4 × 10¹¹	Induction of remission
Bibiloni et al[128]	32	6 wk	VSL3®	1800 billion × 2	Induction of remission
Zocco et al[129]	187	12 mo	Lactobacillus GG vs mesalazina	18 × 109	No difference between the treatment groups
Henker et al[130]	34	12 mo	Escherichia coli Nissle 1917	5 × 1010	Maintenance of remission
Miele et al[131]	29	12 mo	VSL3®	450-1800 × 109	Induction of remission (92.8% in treated with VSL3® and 36.4% in the placebo group)
Sood et al[132]	147	12 wk	VSL3®	3.6 × 10¹²	Induction of remission (42.9% against 15.7% in the placebo group)
Matthes et al[133]	57	4 wk	Escherichia coli Nissle 1917	10-40 × 108	Induction of remission
Sang et al[134]	13 RCTs				Heterogenity between the studies in their methodology and results

5-ASA: 5-aminosalicylic acid; CDAI: Crohn's disease activity index; CFU: Colony-forming unit; RCTs: Randomised controlled trials.