Effects of Probiotics on Gut Microbiota in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several clinical trials have revealed various advantages for probiotics in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to further investigate the effects of probiotic yogurt consumption on gut microbiota in patients with this disease. METHODS: A total of 305 participants were divided into three groups; group A (IBD patients receiving probiotic yogurt; n=105), group B (IBD patients receiving placebo; n=105), and control group (healthy individuals receiving probiotic yogurt; n=95). Stool samples were collected both before and after 8 weeks of intervention; and population of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides in the stool specimens was measured by Taqman real-time PCR method. RESULTS: By the end of the intervention, no significant variations in the mean weight and body mass index were observed between three groups (p>0.05). However, the mean numbers of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroides in group A were significantly increased compared to group B (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p< 0.01, respectively). There were also significant differences in the mean numbers of either of three bacteria between group A and the healthy control group; however, these differences between two groups were observed both at baseline and the end of the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of probiotic yogurt by patients with IBD may help to improve intestinal function by increasing the number of probiotic bacteria in the intestine and colon. However, many more studies are required in order to prove the concept.

Goiter prevalence, urinary iodine excretion, thyroid function and anti-thyroid function and anti-thyroid antibodies after 12 years of salt iodization in Shahriar, Iran.

OBJECTIVE: In a previous study in 1983, goiter was found to be endemic in Shahriar, Iran. Iodized salt has been distributed in the region for the past 12 years, and the present study was performed to examine the effect of iodide supplementation on indicators of iodine deficiency (IDD) and thyroid antibodies. DESIGN & METHODS: A total of 3164 people, 58% women and 42% men, were selected by random sampling from the Shahriar area. Goiter was staged according to World Health Organization guidelines. Urinary iodine was measured by a digestion method, and thyroid hormone measurements were done by radioimmunoassay. The results were compared with those of 1983. RESULTS: Goiter prevalence before and after iodine supplementation was 50 and 40% in men, 70 and 51% in women, and 60 and 47% in the whole community, respectively (p < 0.001). A decrease in the prevalence of goiter was observed especially in younger individuals. The mean urinary iodine excretion was 7.6 and 18.5 micrograms/dL, before and after iodine supplementation. In 1983, the urinary iodine in 47.5% of the population studied was between 2 to 5 micrograms/dL, while in 1995, 65% of the population studied had urinary iodine between 10 to 25 micrograms/dL, 12 years after iodine supplementation. Mean serum T4, T3, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were normal before and after intervention. There was no significant change in occurrence of positive antibodies, or of hypo- and hyperthyroidism, following iodine supplementation. CONCLUSION: The result of this study shows that the use of iodized salt causes an increase in excreted urinary iodine and a decrease in the prevalence of thyroid goiter, especially in younger age groups. Consumption of iodized salt with 40 parts per million (ppm) iodine has not caused increased prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in this area.

Effects of an Oral Supplementation of Germinated Barley Foodstuff on Serum CRP Level and Clinical Signs in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND: The present study was aimed to determine the effect of Germinated Barley Foodstuff (GBF) administration on serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and clinical signs in patients with Ulcerative Colitis (UC). METHODS: Forty-six patients were randomly allocated into GBF group and control group. Subjects in control group received only conventional drug therapy, while the GBF group received 30g GBF per day (3 times a day) by oral administration during 2 month along with routine medications. RESULTS: The mean serum CRP in the GBF group decreased significantly (P=0.017) compared with the baseline. Although the frequency of clinical signs including the number of episodes diarrhea, degree of visible blood in stool, degree of abdominal pain or cramping, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia decreased in the GBF group but it was statistically significant only in the case of abdominal pain and cramping. However, this reduction was only significant in the case of abdominal pain and cramping (P=0.016) CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of GBF along with the current medication may be efficient in attenuating the inflammation and clinical signs of UC patients.

Effects of an oral supplementation of germinated barley foodstuff on serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 and -8 in patients with ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of germinated barley foodstuff (GBF) on tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and -8 (IL-8) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) has not yet been examined. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of administration of GBF on serum TNF-α, IL-6 and -8 levels in UC patients in remission. METHODS: Forty-one patients with UC were divided into two groups, namely control and GBF group. Twenty-one patients in the control group received standard treatment while 20 patients in the GBF group received 30 g of GBF daily by oral administration during two months of the study along with standard drug therapy. RESULTS: Levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and -8 all decreased in the GBF group compared with baseline during the two-month study, while in the control group all values rose. For IL-6 and -8 this effect was significant, P = 0.034 and 0.013, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study showed that the consumption of GBF may reduce the level of serum TNF-α, IL-6 and -8 in patients with UC. This investigation was designed as a pilot study and the results may provide a basis for more future clinical trials.