Context

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the large bowel. Currently recognised therapies act in controlling the inflammation associated with this disease. However, the intestinal microbiome seems to play a major role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Therefore, the modulation of the gut flora using probiotics has been suggested as a way to maintain balance as well as integrity of the intestinal flora. However, the available evidence is limited in regard to the use of probiotics to induce remission as adjunctive therapy in mild-to-moderate UC – mostly as large, randomised, placebo-controlled trials have yet to be performed. The goal of this study was to assess whether adding VSL#3 to standard maintenance treatment of patients with relapsing mild-to-moderate UC would improve clinical symptoms and induce remission.