Recruitment difficulties

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an immune mediated chronic inflammatory bowel disease that results at least in part of an abnormal immune response to environmental factors including the intestinal microbiota. Thus, use of probiotics (microorganisms that are believed to provide health benefits when consume) may restore the gastrointestinal microbiota and reduce intestinal inflammation.

Propionibacterium freudenreichii is used for the production of fermented food products (cheese). Some selected strains have strong anti-inflammatory properties. Use of cheese based on a monoxenic culture of anti-inflammatory strain of Propionibacterium freudenreichii may decrease disease activity during ulcerative colitis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient with age above 18 years old
• Patient with diagnosis of ulcerative colitis for at least 6 months.
• Patient with mayo endoscopic score ≥ 1
• Patient with mild to moderate disease activity (3 < SCCI < 12)
• Ongoing treatment by mesalamine, steroids, thiopurines or Tumor Necrosis Factor antagonist at stable dose.
• Patients who have given written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Adults legally protected (under judicial protection, guardianship, or supervision), persons deprived of their liberty.
• Psychiatric disease that alter the judgment
• Stoma
• Proctocolectomy
• Severe disease (SCCI >12, acute severe colitis)
• Steroid dose > 10 mg/j or introduction of steroid (topic or oral) within 4 weeks
• Introduction or dose optimization of TNF antagonist within 4 months
• Introduction or dose optimization of thiopurine
• Hemoglobin level < 11,5 g/dL, Platelets > 400000/mm3, Leukocytosis > 10 000/mm3
• Intolerant to lactose
• Disease extent limited to the rectum
• Mayo endoscopic subscore of 3