Probiotics in diverticular disease of the colon: an open label study.

Aim: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of a symbiotic mixture in preventing recurrence of constipationrelated abdominal pain in patients with uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon. Methods: Forty-six consecutive patients (10 men, 36 women, mean age 62.5 years, range 49 to 77 years), previously affected by symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon, were enrolled in a 6-month follow-up study in a prospective, randomized, open-label study. The following symptoms were assessed at entry and through follow-up by using a quantitative scale: constipation, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. After recruitment, the patients were assigned to the following treatment: SCM-III symbiotic mixture, 10ml three times a day. The colonization of ingested Lactobacillus acidophilus 145 and Bifi dobacterium spp. 420 was assessed by specie-specifi c PCR. Forty-fi ve patients completed the study (97%). Results: Thirty-one patients (68%) were still symptom free after the 6th month of treatment. Treatment with SCM-III was regarded as “effective” or “very effective” in more than 78% of the patients altogether (p<0.01 vs baseline values). The microbiological study showed that, as compared to baseline values, SCM-III enabled a signifi cant increase of the lactobacilli and bifi dobacteria counting and a trend decrease of clostridia. Genomic analysis confi rmed the survivability of the ingested strain as long as treatment was given. Conclusions: The present symbiotic mixture seems to be effective in preventing recurrence of symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon, especially in those patients with constipation-predominant features.