Do patients with celiac disease need probiotics?

One of the most common questions that I receive from patients diagnosed with celiac disease is if they should take a probiotic. The only available treatment for celiac disease, an autoimmune disease characterized by destruction of the absorptive surface of the small intestine which develops in genetically compatible individuals, is a gluten free diet. However, patients and providers often question whether supplementation with probiotics may hasten the healing process. Probiotics are live microbes that, when administered, are thought to benefit our overall health by directly influencing our intestinal microbiome (the community of trillions of microbes that reside in our gastrointestinal tract). Laboratory studies suggest that probiotics may contribute to gastrointestinal health specifically in patients with celiac disease by fortifying the protective mucus layer that lines the gastrointestinal tract, dampening the inflammatory response caused by gluten ingestion, decreasing intestinal permeability (the leakiness of the intestinal surface) in response to gluten, and possibly by aiding in gluten digestion. Despite these promising results, these findings do not seem to be upheld once outside of the controlled environment of the laboratory. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Conditions GI Source Type: blogs