file.newsgroup.med.59226 Maven / Gradle / Ivy
From: uabdpo.dpo.uab.edu!gila005 (Stephen Holland)
Subject: Re: diet for Crohn's (IBD)
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (brian manning delaney) wrote:
>
> One thing that I haven't seen in this thread is a discussion of the
> relation between IBD inflammation and the profile of ingested fatty
> acids (FAs).
>
> I was diagnosed last May w/Crohn's of the terminal ileum. When I got
> out of the hospital I read up on it a bit, and came across several
> studies investigating the role of EPA (an essentially FA) in reducing
> inflammation. The evidence was mixed. [Many of these studies are
> discussed in "Inflammatory Bowel Disease," MacDermott, Stenson. 1992.]
>
> But if I recall correctly, there were some methodological bones to be
> picked with the studies (both the ones w/pos. and w/neg. results). In
> the studies patients were given EPA (a few grams/day for most of the
> studies), but, if I recall correctly, there was no restriction of the
> _other_ FAs that the patients could consume. From the informed
> layperson's perspective, this seems mistaken. If lots of n-6 FAs are
> consumed along with the EPA, then the ratio of "bad" prostanoid
> products to "good" prostanoid products could still be fairly "bad."
> Isn't this ratio the issue?
>
> What's the view of the gastro. community on EPA these days? EPA
> supplements, along with a fairly severe restriction of other FAs
> appear to have helped me significantly (though it could just be the
> low absolute amount of fat I eat -- 8-10% calories).
>
> -Brian
As you note, the research is mixed, so there is no consensus on the
role of fatty acids in Ulcerative colitis. There is a role for short
chain fatty acids in patients with colostomies and rectal pouches
that are inflammed (Short is butyrate and shorter). There may be a role
for treatment of UC with Short chain fatty acids, and I am looking
forward to the upcoming AGA meeting in Boston to see what people are
doing.
You raise a hypothesis about the studies and restriction of other
fatty acids. You should contact the authors directly about that or
even write a letter to the editor - it is a good point. By the way,
the abbreviation EPA is not in general use, so I do not know what
fatty acid you are speaking about.
And to Brian an U of C --- There is a physician named Stephen Hanauer
there who is a recognized expert in the treatment of IBD. You might
give him a call. He is interested in new combinations of drugs for
the treatment of IBD. If you call please say hello to him from me,
I was looking at U of C for a position, and perhaps still am. And
be sure to look into joining the CCFA.
Best of Luck.
Steve Holland