Key takeaways

  • Probiotics might help to rebalance gut bacteria in people with Crohn’s disease, potentially easing symptoms by reducing inflammation and improving immune responses, but more research is necessary.
  • Current research suggests that multiple probiotics, especially Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces boulardii, may be most beneficial for Crohn’s, though only a few studies confirm benefits for managing the condition.
  • While probiotics are generally safe, individuals with weakened immune systems should exercise caution due to the risk of infection, and anyone considering probiotics should consult a doctor, especially if they are already taking medications.

Probiotics are living microorganisms, including bacteria and yeast, that have health benefits. Some people take probiotics to enhance the digestive bacteria in their gut.

People can buy probiotics as supplements or eat probiotic foods, such as yogurt, kefir, miso, and tempeh.

Researchers have conducted several studies into whether probiotics can offer any benefits to people with Crohn’s disease.

In this article, we will examine the latest research on using probiotics to reduce Crohn’s disease symptoms.

Research suggests that people with Crohn’s disease have an altered gut microbiome, which means that the digestive bacteria in their gut are unbalanced.

Some experts maintain that using probiotics to restore the microbiome can allow a person with Crohn’s disease to reduce irregular immune responses and experience fewer symptoms.

They believe that adding healthful bacteria to the digestive tract, potentially by incorporating natural probiotic food sources into the diet, can reduce intestinal inflammation and immune system anomalies. This could minimize symptoms of Crohn’s disease, such as gastrointestinal irritation, diarrhea, and stomach upset.

To see whether or not probiotics work for them, people with Crohn’s disease can keep a food diary and slowly incorporate some of these foods into their diet, noting any changes in their symptoms.

Probiotic foods include:

A person may also incorporate prebiotic foods into their diet. These are food sources that feed bacteria in the digestive tract and can promote their growth. These foods include onions, leeks, and asparagus.

Research has not proven that probiotics can help reduce Crohn’s disease symptoms. However, as long as someone does not have an allergy to foods that contain probiotics, incorporating them into the diet is a relatively risk-free method of improving overall health and helping manage the disease.

Most of the research surrounding Crohn’s disease and probiotics has consisted of small studies of 50 or fewer participants taking probiotics to achieve or maintain remission.

In a 2021 analysis, researchers suggested that using multiple probiotics had the most benefits for improving the progression of Crohn’s disease. The most useful probiotics in humans and mice were Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces boulardii.

A 2023 systematic review analyzed the findings of 33 studies focusing on the use of probiotics to treat Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC)—both types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Only four studies showed that probiotics had benefits for managing Crohn’s disease, and the benefits were greatest when people took probiotic supplements for 3 to 6 months.

Far more studies, 21 out of 25, showed benefits for using probiotics to achieve and maintain remission from UC.

While probiotics appear to be helpful in treating UC, more research into using them for managing Crohn’s is necessary.

Probiotics are safe for most people. In rare cases though, the microorganisms in them can cause infection, which can lead to adverse side effects.

People at risk include those with weakened immune systems, the critically ill, and very sick infants.

Those with healthy immune systems may still experience some mild side effects, such as gas, bloating, or an upset stomach, after taking probiotics.

A person with Crohn’s disease may be taking several different medications to manage their condition, so check with a doctor before taking any new medications or supplements, including probiotics.

Probiotics may possibly reduce symptoms in people with Crohn’s disease, but there is a lack of research to confirm this.

Until more research is available, people should speak with a doctor about the risks and benefits of adding a probiotic supplement to their diet.

A doctor may recommend keeping a food and symptoms diary before and after starting probiotics to determine whether or not they have any beneficial effects.