Lactobacillus salivarius has been investigated for its potential role in supporting or treating Inflammatory Bowel Disorders (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The scientific evidence supporting its use is limited but emerging. Several small-scale human studies and animal experiments have demonstrated that L. salivarius may modulate the gut microbiota, enhance the intestinal barrier, and exert anti-inflammatory effects. For example, a randomized controlled trial in 2005 found that L. salivarius UCC118 supplementation led to a reduction in disease activity in patients with mild-to-moderate Crohn’s disease, though the study was small (n=20) and results have not been widely replicated. Animal studies have indicated that L. salivarius can reduce markers of inflammation in chemically induced colitis models, potentially by downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhancing regulatory T-cell responses.

However, the overall body of evidence remains preliminary. Meta-analyses and systematic reviews on probiotics in IBD often do not single out L. salivarius due to insufficient high-quality, large-scale clinical trials. Most guidelines consider the evidence for its efficacy to be modest at best. Thus, while there is scientific interest and some validation, the strength of evidence is rated at 2/5, indicating weak to moderate support. More robust, large-scale studies are needed to conclusively establish the therapeutic benefit of L. salivarius for IBD.