The role of enteric microflora in inflammatory bowel disease: Human and animal studies with probiotics and prebiotics

Dysbiosis refers to an unfavorable balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria that reside in the intestinal tract, a condition that is believed to play an etiological role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Prebiotic and probiotic agents are able to alter the composition of the enteric microbiota, favoring the growth and metabolism of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacilli and Bifidobactetia and, as such, they hold tremendous promise for treating IBD. This article provides a brief summary of the known biological effects of prebiotics and probiotics in die intestinal tract, the rationale for their use in patients who have IBD, and an up-to-date appraisal of the literature examining the therapeutic efficacy of pre- and probiotics in human (IBD) and experimental colitis.