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Anyone using probiotics for maintenance?

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Crohn's Disease
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sanfran
Regular Member
Joined : Jul 2007
Posts : 56
Posted 8/30/2007 10:39 PM (GMT -6)
I just got back from my GI today and discussed a study I found on Probiotics. We had a good discussion and in the end I decided that I would try them out. He gave me a few samples to get started. I am tapering off of Prednisone and will be steroid-free (fingers crossed) in 4 weeks. I'm going to try maintenance with Asacol and a probiotic called Florastor.

According to my doc, this is the only probiotic that has shown positive results in preventing flares. The study tracked people using mesalamine (Asacol, Pentasa, etc.) with Florastor. His opinion is that the research is pretty weak in support of its effectiveness but its not going to hurt to try it.

Has anyone tried this before? Did it work for you? If so, where is the best place to buy them?

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EMom
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 990
Posted 8/31/2007 7:05 AM (GMT -6)
Okay, this is what I'm trying to get a grip on. After looking into Florastor, I see it contains one strain of beneficial yeast: saccharomyces boulardii. That is all it contains from what I can tell. It sounds like it has a long history of success treating diarrhea. It is considered a probiotic yeast, while the others are considered probiotic bacterium. (I am not a scientist! Can anyone out there explain this better?)

I also see that some brands of probiotics like Garden of Life Primal Defense Ultra also contain this beneficial yeast along with many strains of beneficial bacterium. I will be checking the brand I use next.

We're new to CD, but I've had such great results in the past with probiotics for other issues that I am a believer. Therefore, wouldn't it seem that a product with a combo of all these might be the way to go? I don't know... Just throwing it out there.

As for your doc saying Florastor is the only probiotic that has shown positive results in preventing flares, I recently spoke with the folks at VSL3 and they say they have studies that show their product has a high success rate of maintaining remission in folks with UC. They also said they have a very small study out of Canada proving similar success with CD. VSL3 does not contain saccharomyces boulardii....hummmm...

I used to buy my probiotics at the local health food store but recently began purchasing them online because it seems I am getting a "stronger" product for my money. That said, my health food store is very small and doesn't carry a large inventory. Also, I have always read that the better probiotics should be kept refrigerated. Don't know if that still holds true...

Also, sanfran, probiotics have been discussed here many times in the past. Maybe try a search to see what you can learn! Good luck!
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princesa
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 2204
Posted 8/31/2007 7:49 AM (GMT -6)
In the book Optimal Digestion, the benefits of saccharomyces boulardii are discussed. And yes, it is a type of yeast. I certainly wouldn't say it was the only probiotic with trying. If SB is all it contains, I'm not sure you can even call it a probiotic. Many reputable brands with combinations of different strains have helped folks with IBD.
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pb4
Elite Member
Joined : Feb 2004
Posts : 20577
Posted 8/31/2007 12:25 PM (GMT -6)

sanfran :)

Funny your doc said that about florastor because in all actuallity VSL3 is proven to be the most beneficial probioitic for IBD (if you can afford it)....here's a link regarding a study done on VSL3 and IBD..

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2006/10/12/probiotics.html#skip300x250

Just scroll to the top of the page when the link loads in to read the entire article from the beginning.

BTW, I use Primadophilus Reuteri myself with success.

:)


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killerzoey
Regular Member
Joined : Jul 2007
Posts : 161
Posted 8/31/2007 8:04 PM (GMT -6)
S. Boulardii is recommended by people doing the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, as well. I have been taking it for about a week and am on an upswing with GI issues, but I've been tweaking so many things it's hard to say if it is due to that.

I also consume mass quantities of a strong probiotic yogurt that I make myself that contains 3 specific beneficial bacteria. On SCD, these 3 yogurt bacteria (+ acidophilous if we so desire) are allowed but NO bifudus type bacteria, which you'll see in most commercial yogurt.

But get this = when I visited my GI she was giving samples of this probiotic OTC called Align, which ONLY contained Bifudus - the one I can't have on my diet!

It is really hard to understand all of this.

But about maintenance... I am going to try to stay on Asacol as well as the diet and probiotics.
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Skjura
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2007
Posts : 210
Posted 9/1/2007 7:29 AM (GMT -6)
Saccharomyces boulardii is a yeast, and trials shows it's breaking down a bacteria called clostridium difficile. One should avoid this if there is any problem with fungemi.

Another thing: try to avoid bifidum bacteries if you are going to find good probiotics, or better; avoid all kind of bacteria that has a name with bidfidum in it to be sure- the SCD diet avoids it.

The three probiotics that are recommended when making your own yoghurt is:
lactobacillus bulgaricus
streptococcus thermophilus
and
if you find this, then add it: lactobacillus acidophilus - these three are working well together, again according to the SCD diet.
Other good bacteria is:
lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
lactobacillus casei
Some say that to digest and let those probiotic bacterias work you also need prebiotica. Prebiotica is things like: Psyllium.
I'm not sure if the SCD diet use psyllium, anyone who knows?


From Ingrid

...oh, and I forgot: those probioticum boosts the immunesystem......

Post Edited (Skjura) : 9/1/2007 7:31:36 AM (GMT-6)

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sanfran
Regular Member
Joined : Jul 2007
Posts : 56
Posted 9/1/2007 9:28 AM (GMT -6)
thanks for all of your feedback. My doc said that I could try any of these but there just wasn't any clinical studies that he felt completely supported the use of any of these but that some people really had good results from it. Looks like I will continue to do more research and trying things out...all in the name of avoiding a flare up.
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