Actual concept of "probiotics": Is it more functional to science or business?

Table 3 Results of clinical trials with probiotics in patients with Crohn’s disease

Ref.	Patients (n)	Duration of therapy	Probiotic strains	Dose (CFU/d)	Outcomes
Malchow et al[135]	24	3 mo	Escherichia coli Nissle 1917	2.5 × 1010	Maintaining the remission
Guslandi et al[136]	32	6 mo	Saccharomyces boulardii	1 g	Postsurgical prevention of CD recurrence (relapse rate probiotic+ 5-ASA vs 5-ASA alone)
Prantera et al[137]	45	1 yr	Lactobacillus GG	12 × 109	Postsurgical prevention of CD recurrence (no effects)
Schultz al[138]	11	6 mo	Lactobacillus GG	2 × 109	Probiotics are not superior to placebo in maintaining remission
Bousvaros et al[139]	75	1 yr	Lactobacillus GG	2 × 1010	Probiotics are not superior to placebo in maintaining remission
Marteau et al[140]	98	6 mo	Lactobacillus johnsonii	4 × 109	Postsurgical prevention of CD recurrence (recurrence rate decreased vs placebo)
Chermesh et al[141]	30	24 mo	Synbiotic 2000 (Pediococcus pentoseceus, Lactobacillus raffinolactis, Lactobacillus paracasi susp paracsei, Lactobacillusplantarum 2362) and 4 fermentable fibers vs placebo	10¹¹	Postsurgical prevention of CD recurrence (NS)
Van Gossum et al[142]	70	12 wk	Lactobacillus johnsonii or placebo	1010	Postsurgical prevention of CD recurrence (NS)
Rolfe et al[143]	7 RCTs				No benefit of probiotics in the maintenance of remission of CD
Rahimi et al[144]	8 RCTs				None benefit for probiotic treatment in the maintenance of clinical remission of CD

RCTs: Randomised controlled trials; CD: Crohn's disease; 5-ASA: 5-aminosalicylic acid; CFU: Colony-forming unit; NS: Not significant.