Gut Bacteria and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Researchers have long suspected that intestinal bacteria play an important role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Studies have found that people with IBD often have increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”), allowing bacteria and other substances to come into closer contact with the immune system. Rather than tolerating normal intestinal bacteria, the immune system appears to mount an abnormal inflammatory response against them.
Researchers have also found differences in the types of bacteria living in the intestines of people with IBD. Beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacteria, tend to be reduced, while other bacterial groups become more abundant. In some studies, bacteria have even been found penetrating the intestinal lining, suggesting that the gut barrier has been compromised.
Because of these findings, probiotics have been studied as a way to help restore a healthier balance of intestinal bacteria. While some people with IBD may benefit, responses vary, and research is ongoing to determine which probiotic strains are most effective.
