I think the term probiotics has becoome cliche of late because it is a term that has gained popularity. However, I don't think that people fully recognize how many different aspects of physiology they are able to effect. As I have said, the small intestine houses 70% of our immune system, but it is through this organ that the nervous sytem, musculoskeletal system, and hormonal systems may be reached in addition to the immune system and gastrointestinal system. This article is discussing the effect of various strains of probiotics on folate assimilation. This is a very important point as folate, B12, and iron are three things that are almost always low with those having IC or other chronic inflammatory disorders owing to the gastrointestinal tract and working on bringing these numbers up can be very challenging. Using traditional methods to do so can actually trigger more inflammation and create a worsening of the inflammatory condition. Probiotics may be one important part of returning these levels to a normal range. What is also important is the idea that this illustrates an example of something that most people may not associate with the function of a probiotic. They do so much more than what it is we think they do. Slowly as these bacteria are implemented into the tract and thes bacteria help to normalize the colonies of organisms inside, ecosystem regains normal functioning. This will in turn help to effect, as I said all of the other systems in the body as well. When I first began to realize this was early in my practice when I was working with a patient doing bio-identical hormone therapy. We were trying to raise her estrogen levels at that time. Long story short, after months of HRT, we were checking the blood and saliva levels constantly to tract the changes we stopped because nothing was working. We diverted our focus to probiotics and in the end, it was that that made the big difference. Her estrogen levels came up and normalized. I am not saying they are the only way, I am simply saying there is often an alternative way to do something or look at it and effect the change it is you are looking for depending on the style of the pracitioner. And, even within one scope of practice, it is not uncomoon to use different tools depending on the individual and her needs. If you find other specific studies on probiotics you would like to share, please do. I think it is very very helpful to have these as examples as one of many things that probiotics can do. 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257725/

Dr.M