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

The pharmaceutical probiotic VSL#3 (300 billion cfu/g lactic acid bacteria & bifidobacteria) has been inoculated into human ileostomy effluent (HIE) to assess its behaviour vs the ileo-caecal tract. Separately, yogurt bacteria (yog) and bifidobacteria (Bif) present in VSL#3 were also inoculated into HIE. During 37°C incubation (anaerobic condition) at zero, six and 24 hours, both cells growth in control HIE and indigenous Bif growth in HIE+yog was observed. Cells remain viable and metabolically active as shown by the increase of L(+) lactic acid in HIE+VSL#3 and HIE+yog and the pH decrease (approx. 5.5 compared with the 6.2 of control HIE). Total SCFA decrease in HIE+yog and HIE+VSL#3 at 6h and in all cultures at 24h; butyric acid decrease in HIE+Bif and HIE+VSL#3. Generally in vivo the bacteria permanency in the ileo-caecal tract is no longer than six h, therefore VSL#3 bacteria seem able to pass this barrier viable, colonizing the large bowel.