Update on the role of probiotics in the therapy of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.

Probiotics have had many applications in the past few years, and inflammatory conditions of the GI tract--including chronic disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)--have received the most attention by investigators. In fact, the experimental basis to expect clinical efficacy of probiotics in IBD is quite robust. In spite of this however, only minimal evidence of benefit by any probiotic is currently available in Crohn's disease, either in adult or in pediatric populations. In ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, several probiotic formulations and especially the proprietary preparation VSL#3 (a high-concentration mixture) have been found effective as adjuvant therapy, both in inducing and maintaining remission.