Bowel cleansing with subsequent intake of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v does not change the composition of the faecal flora

Figures & data

Table I.  Defecation frequency (per day) and faeces consistency scores according to the Bristol scale (1, hard lumps to 7, watery diarrhoea) in week 0 (before bowel cleansing), week 1 (first faecal sample after colonoscopy), week 2 (after consumption of probiotic/placebo for 2 weeks), week 4 (after consumption of probiotic/placebo for 4 weeks) and week 8 (four weeks after cessation of the probiotic/placebo drinks) in 22 patients (mean±SD).

Parameter	Week 0	Week 1	Week 2	Week 4	Week 8
Consistency
Probiotic	4.4±1.4	4.8±1.6	4.2±1.3	4.2±1.5	3.7±1.6
Placebo	4.2±1.8	4.1±1.6	3.9±1.3	4.1±1.3	4.3±1.1
Frequency
Probiotic	1.9±1.6	1.2±1.6	1.7±1.5	1.5±0.8	1.4±0.8
Placebo	0.9±0.9	0.9±1.1	1.3±0.9	1.6±0.7	1.6±0.7

Table II.  Number of bacterial strains (log cfu/g faeces) in week 0 (before bowel cleansing), week 1 (first faecal sample after colonoscopy), week 2 (after consumption of probiotic/placebo for 2 weeks), week 4 (after consumption of probiotic/placebo for 4 weeks) and week 8 (4 weeks after cessation of the probiotic/placebo drinks) in 22 patients (mean±SD).

Parameter	Week 0	Week 1	Week 2	Week 4	Week 8
Total aerobic flora
Probiotic group	6.2±0.8	7.4±0.7*	6.4±0.5	6.2±1.2	6.1±1.0
Placebo group	7.3±1.1	7.3±0.9	7.1±1.3	7.5±1.0	6.7±1.3
E. coli
Probiotic group	5.7±1.2	6.7±2.1	5.6±1.7	6.0±2.1	4.6±2.4
Placebo group	6.9±1.2	6.7±1.0	6.4±2.3	6.6±2.5	6.1±2.4
Enterococci
Probiotic group	2.6±1.6	3.2±2.2	3.3±1.6	2.7±1.6	2.5±1.6
Placebo group	4.5±1.7	4.8±2.2	3.9±1.9	4.1±2.0	3.5±1.7
Total anaerobic flora
Probiotic group	8.2±1.6	8.3±1.3	8.2±1.0	8.5±1.1	7.9±1.1
Placebo group	8.5±1.2	8.1±1.6	8.5±1.3	8.8±1.4	8.4±1.1
Bacteroides spp.
Probiotic group	5.5±2.2	6.4±1.2	5.5±1.6	4.9±2.5	5.3±1.8
Placebo group	6.3±1.4	6.7±1.0	6.4±2.1	6.3±2.3	6.9±0.8
Clostridia
Probiotic group	4.1±1.4	3.7±1.3	4.2±0.9	4.1±0.8	3.5±1.3
Placebo group	4.7±0.4	3.9±1.3	5.0±0.6	4.3±1.0	4.5±0.8
Lactic acid bacteria
Probiotic group	5.2±1.3	6.4±0.9*	6.4±0.9*	6.6±0.9*	5.0±1.4
Placebo group	4.9±2.2	5.4±1.3	5.7±1.5	4.9±2.3	4.2±2.1
Lactobacilli
Probiotic group	4.7±1.9	6.6±1.3*	6.5±0.8*	6.8±1.0*	4.6±1.4
Placebo group	5.0±2.2	5.2±1.5	4.9±2.0	4.7±2.0	4.4±1.7

*Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) compared to week 0.

Figure 1.  Mean similarity values (in percentages) in the probiotic and placebo group using PCR/DGGE. Comparisons were made between weeks 0 and 1 (0vs1), weeks 1 and 4 (1vs4), weeks 4 and 8 (4vs8) and weeks 0 and 8 (0vs8).

Figure 2.  DGGE pattern of one patient from the placebo group (a) and one patient from the probiotic group (b). 0 = week 0, 1 = week 1, 2 = week 2, 4 = week 4, 8 = week 8. At the arrows individual changes in band intensities or presence could be observed.