OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of probiotics on the treatment outcomes of ulcerative colitis, and explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSAccording to the table of random number, 60 ulcerative colitis patients in our hospital were enrolled prospectively and divided into 3 groups: Golden Bifid group, Changmei group, combination group (Golden+ Changmei). Patients in Golden Bifid group received Golden Bifid 2.0 g, bid, those in Changmei group received Changmei 1.0 g, tid, and those in combination group received the above two drugs for 24 months. The clinical symptom score, colon mucosa inflammation score and endoscopic grade score were calculated and compared. IL-10 in mucosa and serum was determined by immunohistochemistry and double-antibody sandwich ELISA.

RESULTSIn combined group after 24 months of treatment, clinical symptom score (12.5±2.1 vs. 2.3±0.8, P=0.016), endoscopic classification score (3.02±0.17 vs. 0.25±0.13, P=0.032), inflammatory reaction score (2.63±0.19 vs. 0.77±0.16, P=0.028) were significantly higher than those before treatment. While the scores differences of before and after treatment in Gold Bifid group and Changmei group were not statistically significant (P>0.05). IL-10 in serum [(17.4±2.2) ng/L vs. (12.8±2.2) ng/L, P=0.015] and colon mucosa [85% (17/20) vs. 55% (11/20), P=0.026] in combination group were significantly higher than those before treatment. The differences in IL-10 expression level before and after treatment were not statistically significant in the Gold Bifid group and Changmei group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONGolden Bifid combined with Changmei as microbial ecological agents has a positive efficacy on mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, which may be associated with the up-regulation of IL-10 expression.