What do systematic reviews say?

Probiotics vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether probiotics changes serious adverse events compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Probiotics for induction of remission in ulcerative colitis 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.09 [0.01, 1.66]
  7 studies · 526 participants
  Very low

Probiotics vs 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA) (mesalazine)

It is very uncertain whether probiotics changes serious adverse events compared with 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA) (mesalazine) (very low certainty).

• Probiotics for induction of remission in ulcerative colitis 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.21 [0.01, 4.22]
  1 study · 116 participants
  Very low

Probiotics vs 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA) (mesalazine)

It is very uncertain whether probiotics changes serious adverse events (52 weeks) compared with 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA) (mesalazine) (very low certainty).

• Probiotics for maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.19 [0.41, 3.46]
  1 study · 327 participants
  Very low

Probiotics vs placebo

• Probiotics for maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 351 participants
  GRADE not reported

Probiotic + 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA) (mesalazine) vs 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA) (mesalazine)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Probiotics for induction of remission in ulcerative colitis 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Antibiotics plus probiotics vs placebo or no intervention

It is very uncertain whether antibiotics plus probiotics changes serious adverse events compared with placebo or no intervention (very low certainty).

• Antibiotics for the induction and maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1 [0.07, 15.08]
  2 studies · 98 participants
  Very low