Probiotic Yogurt Reduces Inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Study Objective

Evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of probiotic yogurt in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Study Design

• Participants: 40 subjects

  • 20 healthy controls

  • 20 IBD patients

    • 15 Crohn’s disease

    • 5 Ulcerative colitis

• Intervention:
  Daily yogurt containing
  Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1
  Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14

• Duration:
  30 days

Key Immune Findings

Increased Regulatory T Cells

• CD4⁺ CD25(high) Treg cells increased significantly

• Before treatment: 0.84%

• After treatment: 1.25%

Statistical significance:
P = 0.007

These regulatory T cells help suppress excessive immune inflammation.

Reduced Pro-Inflammatory Signals

Probiotic yogurt consumption led to decreases in:

• TNF-α producing monocytes

• IL-12 producing dendritic cells

• Serum IL-12 levels

• Activated T-cell markers (IL-2⁺, CD69⁺)

These molecules are key drivers of intestinal inflammation in IBD.

Mechanistic Insight

Increase in Treg cells correlated with reduced inflammatory cytokines, suggesting probiotic yogurt may:

• Restore immune balance

• Suppress excess inflammatory responses

Clinical Conclusion

Probiotic yogurt intake for 30 days:

• Enhanced regulatory immune cells

• Reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines

• Produced significant anti-inflammatory effects in IBD patients

Minimal immune changes were observed in healthy controls.

Reference

Sheikhi  et al.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition