Introduction
stoma, diseases like colorectal cancer, Crohn’s disease
INTESTINAL DISEASE, ULCERATIVE COLITIS
The human body hosts a multitude of microbial communities that occupy different body niches forming complex host-microbial ecosystems. There is increasing evidence of the importance of these microbial communities for host health and homeostasis [Contrary to the colonic microbiota, the human SI microbiota is poorly characterised, due to the invasive sampling technologies required to obtain material from the SI tract in healthy subjects. This can in part be overcome by sampling from individuals who underwent colectomy to remedy diseases like colorectal cancer, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease. In some of these surgical interventions the ileum is connected to a stoma in their abdominal wall (ileostoma), allowing non-invasive sampling from the SI tract. Despite their history of intestinal disease, and provided that comorbidities are absent, these ileostomists do not need maintenance medication and their SI is considered to function similarly as that of a healthy individual [Most of the SI is a harsh environment for bacteria due to high concentrations of digestive enzymes, bile salts, and antimicrobial peptides. Microbial density and diversity are relatively low [Several food products are rich in viable bacteria that may transiently dominate the SI ecosystem. For example, yogurt is a commonly consumed fermented dairy product containing more than 10The aim of the present study was to investigate how fermented dairy products could (transiently) impact the small intestinal microbiota in human subjects. To this end, 16 ileostomists were recruited that underwent 3 randomised, cross-over interventions of 2 weeks, during which they consumed dairy products fermented with 