Probiotic Possibilities In Crohn’s Disease: A Research Review Article

Crohn’s Disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune disease in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) family. The condition causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, and other health complications. The presence of certain pathogenic bacteria can cause the disease, but so can the absence of helpful ones. The microorganisms in the gut microbiome carry out many vital tasks, and with missing bacteria these tasks are not carried out. Main treatments for CD are: immunosuppressants, anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, antibacterial drugs, and biologics. Each one offers particular benefits and harmful side effects. Treatments have increased the chances of developing cancers and other illnesses, since the immune system is oftentimes compromised. In a healthy individual, these microbes play a large part in our bodies, protecting us from pathogens, “teaching” the immune system, aiding in digestion, and improving nutrient absorption. In CD patients the microbial composition in the gut microbiome is unbalanced, and introduction of probiotics brings balance back to the gut. Introduction of probiotics also prevents the growth of harmful, inflammation-causing bacteria due to the increased competition within the gut microbiota. Each individual is lacking in or has too many of a certain microbes. All clinical trials performed so far gave patients the same formula of probiotics. However, each individual has a unique microbiome composition, which these trials failed to take into consideration. Considering this, a possible treatment plan may require a multi-strain probiotic treatment that is tailor-fitted for each individual. Therefore, moving forward clinical trials should test tailor-fitted probiotic formulas, which could show more promising results.