Behaviour of the pharmaceutical probiotic preparation VSL#3 in human ileostomy effluent containing its own natural elements

The pharmaceutical probiotic VSL#3 (300 billion cfu/g lactic acid bacteria & bifidobacteria) was inoculated into human ileostomy effluent (HIE) to ass ess its behaviour vs the ileo-caecal tract. Separately, yogurt bacteria (yo g) and bifidobacteria (Bif) present in VSL#3 were also inoculated into HIE. During 37 degreesC incubation (anaerobic condition) at zero, six and 24 hou rs, both cell growth in control HIE and indigenous Bif growth in HIE+yog we re observed. Cells remained viable and metabolically active as shown by the increase in L(+) lactic acid in HIE+VSL#3 and HIE+yog and the pH decreased (approx. 5.5 compared with the 6.2 of control HIE). Total SCFA Short Chain Fatty Acids decreased in HIE+yog and HIE+VSL#3 at 6h and in all cultures at 24h; butyri c acid decreased in HIE+Bif and HIE+VSL#3. Generally in vivo the bacteria r emain in the ileo-caecal tract no longer than six h, therefore VSL#3 bacter ia seem able to pass this barrier viably, colonizing the large bowel.