Impact of Synbiotic Therapy on the Quality of Life in Patients with Mild-to-Moderately Active Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

Background and Aims: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease which is affecting the quality of life, workforce and nutrition of patients negatively in the active periods due to its symptoms. This study aims to explore how synbiotic treatment affects the quality of life in patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis. Methods: Forty ulcerative colitis patients with mild-to-moderate activity were enrolled in the study. Patients were split into two even randomized groups as synbiotic (20 patients) and control (20 patients). The synbiotic group received synbiotic therapy and the control group received placebo for 8 weeks. Both groups were compared at the start and the end of therapy according to the quality of life scores. Quality of life was determined using a short form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Results: An increase in mean SF-36 scores were found in both groups at the end of the study. Altough this increase was higher in patients received synbiotic therapy, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).  SF-36 scores were higher in patients with mild activity or those in remission in both groups. Conclusion: Synbiotic use provides an increase in the SF-36 score, however, this increase is not statistically significant.