The effect of probiotics in maintaining remission of ulcerative colitis: a meta analysis.

Objective To evaluate the effect of probiotics on the maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis(UC).Method Computerized and manual search methods were used to retrieve literature.Published studies on the treatment of UC involving probiotics from 1978-2009 were identified by searching the library Cochrance,PubMed,Embase and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database using the key words "probiotic,ulcerative colitis".We selected only those randomly controlled clinical studies compared with mesalazine.Literature were included in accordance with Cochrane system atic review guideline 4.2.2.Meta analysis was performed to evaluate the data.Result Six trials inVolving 629 patients were included.The results of meta analysis demanstrated that probiotics alone on the maintenance of remission had the same relapse rate as mesalazine(0R=0.84;95%CI:0.59 to 1.19,P=0.33)during 12 to 48 weeks′ follow up.Conclusion Probiotics demonstrated the same therapeutic efficacy as mesalazine onthe maintenance of remission in UC.Probiotics are potent drug on the maintenance of remission in UC.