Pediococcus acidilactici is a lactic acid bacterium sometimes included in probiotic formulations, and its use in supporting or treating Inflammatory Bowel Disorders (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is primarily supported by experimental and pre-clinical scientific studies rather than by traditional use. The evidence for its benefits in IBD is limited, preliminary, and mostly derived from in vitro and animal studies rather than large, well-controlled human clinical trials.

Some studies have demonstrated that P. acidilactici can modulate gut microbiota composition, enhance intestinal barrier function, and inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria—mechanisms which are theoretically beneficial in IBD. For example, animal studies have shown that supplementation with P. acidilactici can decrease inflammatory markers and improve histological outcomes in mouse models of colitis. Additionally, certain commercial multi-strain probiotics that include P. acidilactici have been evaluated in limited clinical contexts, but it is difficult to assign specific effects to this species versus others in the formulation.

Overall, while there is a scientific rationale and some experimental data suggesting potential benefit, there is not yet robust clinical evidence supporting the use of P. acidilactici as a treatment for IBD. The current evidence merits a rating of 2 out of 5, indicating weak but suggestive preclinical support rather than established efficacy in humans.