Effects of Fasting and Hydro Colon Therapy Plus Probiotics on GI Microbiota in Intolerances and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Study objectives: Analysis of consequences of Hydro Colon Therapy plus probiotic intervention on GI microbiota and well being.

Study group: 78 subjects, inclusion criteria: 20-50yrs; under consultation at doctors or nutritionists because of claimed food inconveniences or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. exclusion criteria: antibiotics treatment and specified complex diseases.

Intervention: Hydro colon therapy 2- 5 washes within 3 weeks. probiotic intervention after end of Hydro colon therapy for 6 weeks ( DUOLAC® bacterial strains per capsule: Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus thermophiles, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bifidobacterium breve, fructooligosaccharides, 200 µg folic acid, 2.50 µg vitamin B12 and 55 µg selenium (all amounts corresponding to 100% of daily requirement). Control group: Vitamin B complex: 10µg cobalamin, 450µg folic acid, and 55 µg selenium.

Sample collection: standardized Feces collection, T1, before colon hydrotherapy, T2, immediately after colon hydrotherapy 2-5 washes of fasting ; T3, after six weeks of probiotic or Control intervention Analysis: standardizes food frequency questionnaire before and after intervention.

Feces analysis based on 16 S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) PCR DGGE and quantitative PCR (qPCR) and bioinformatic analysis.

• Hydro Colon Therapy plus probiotic (Other): Probiotic intervention was done after 2-5 cycles of hydro colon therapy.

Primary outcomes

• microbiota structure, using 16 S ribosomal based gradient electrophoresis ( DGGE) [7- 8 weeks hydro colon washes plus probiotic]: Microbiota were analysed for abundance of main microbiota groups and microbiota diversity using 16 S ribosomal based gradient electrophoresis ( DGGE). Abundance is shown in DNA copies/g feces; diversity as number of bands/ sample and by bioinformatic analysis
• Gastrointestinal comfort, measured by Visual Analog Scale [7- 8 weeks hydro colon washes plus probiotic]: Gastrointestinal comfort was analysed by a standardised questionnaire. Pain was measured by Visual Analog Scale

Sex: All, ages: 20 Years to 50 Years, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects under consultation at doctors or nutritionists for Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBD) of food intolerances

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnancy
* Antibiotic therapy 0,5 yrs before start
* Hormone therapies
* Malignant diseases
* Subjects were asked to avoid dietary supplements 4 weeks before and during the study.

• Alexander Haslberger, Principal investigator, UNIVIE