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VSL3 Helps IBS, Pouchitis, Ulcerative Colitis

VSL3 probiotics have been proven to help with chemo induced diarrhea, pouchitis, ulcerative colitis and Irritable bowel syndrome.

VSL #3 contains 8 different bacteria, which is more than most probiotic supplements do and also in high amounts - 450 billion active bacteria cells. Now that is an army of useful bacteria at your call. VSL3 is meant to be used under the supervision of a doctor but is readily available, although pricey.

• Lactobacillus casei
• Lactobacillus plantarum
• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp bulgaricus
• Bifidobacteria longum
• Bifidobacteria breve
• Bifidobacteria infantis
• Streptococcus salivarius subsp thermophilus

The VSL 3 mixture is expensive but it does appear to work well for many people providing they take it at the levels used in the various studies. Currently (end of 2007) VSL3 is not covered by health insurance in the US. I have heard of people being able to use the receipts towards a medical expense tax credit (line 330 of Schedule 1 of your federal income tax return) but that was by using a prescription and having it filled by a pharmacy - not buying online.

You can buy VSL#3 online - it comes in 3 different formats. You can buy it in powder form, either lemon flavored (10 or 30 packet boxes) or unflavored (30 packet box only).

VSL Powder Packets, Lemon Flavor - 10 Packets/Pack

VSL #3 (30 pack)

VSL 3 capsules for ulcerative colitis - 60 ea

The capsules contain 112.5 billion bacteria per capsule with a suggested dosage of 2 capsules and the sachets of powder contain 450 billion. As this is a probiotic mixture you'll often find the term cfu (colony forming units) used which really is a more accurate term than bacteria. Recommended doses vary from half a sachet to 8 depending on the complaint.

Some of these products have reviews and some don't but remember that it is the same probiotic mix in each so the reviews for the capsules should apply equally to the powder sachets. It just depends on what you prefer.

Some suppliers ship world wide and some only ship within the US. For example the double strength link below only ships to the US whilst

VSL-3 ds

There is also a double strength blend which (in the US) is available by prescription only and IS covered by health insurance. You need to ensure that the doctor writes the script for the double strength ie VSL#3 DS because the single strength dose is not covered.

Many people are having difficulty getting hold of this double strength dose. Some pharmacist say they need various codes so - a few figures in the hope it helps someone get this useful probiotic.

VSL 3 ds NDC

NDC (National Drug Code) is 54482093001.

GCN (Generic Code Number) is 97109.

DIN (Drug Identification Number) is 00903105

Medical studies on VSL#3

Probiotics promote gut health through stimulation of epithelial innate immunity - a study on mice but says "support the hypothesis that probiotics promote gut health through stimulation, rather than suppression, of the innate immune system" and "defects in innate immunity may play a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of intestinal disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease".

Commensal bacteria, traditional and opportunistic pathogens, dysbiosis and bacterial killing in inflammatory bowel diseases says "VSL#3 is one probiotic preparation shown to be efficacious in certain clinical situations'.

VSL#3 probiotic-mixture induces remission in patients with active ulcerative colitis says "patients with mild to moderate UC (ulcerative colitis), not responding to conventional therapy, with VSL#3 resulted in a combined induction of remission/response rate of 77% with no adverse events".