Ulcerative Colitis
(IBD, crohn's disease)

information on diet, nutrition, self-help & research

An estimated more than 1 million Americans have ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, the two most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These conditions, which can be painful and debilitating, cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.

There are a number of proactive steps one can take that may significantly help reduce the symptoms of Chrohn's Disease.

See nutritional recommendations
See self help tips
See detailed discussion of nutrition, diet, lifestyle changes

Symptoms

Chronic diarrhea with abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, and a sense of fullness in the abdomen are the most common symptoms. About one-third of Crohn's patients have a history of anal fissures or fistulas.

Nutritional Supplements for Crohn's Disease

These are the most important supplements and recommendations.

Carlsons Super Omega-3 Gems 1000 mg 130 softgels / 250 softgels

Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's?
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are very similar - so similar, in fact, that they're often mistaken for one another. Both inflame the lining of your digestive tract, and both can cause severe bouts of watery diarrhea and abdominal pain. But Crohn's disease can occur anywhere in your digestive tract, often spreading deep into the layers of affected tissues. Ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, usually affects only the innermost lining (mucosa) of your large intestine (colon) and rectum.

Shopping Tips

Helpful: Carlsons Super Omega-3 Gems 1000 mg 130 softgels / 250 softgels - Super Omega-3 Gems 1000 mg 130 softgels / 250 softgels - Fish body oil is the only major source of the polyunsaturated Omega 3's EPA and DHA

Causes

No one is quite sure what causes IBD, although there's a consensus as to what doesn't cause it. Researchers no longer believe that stress is the main culprit, although stress can often aggravate symptoms. Instead, current thinking focuses on the following possibilities:

Immune system Some scientists think an unknown virus or bacterium may cause IBD. The digestive tract becomes inflamed when the body's immune system tries to fight off the invading microorganism. It's also possible that inflammation may stem from the virus or bacterium itself.
Heredity About 20 percent of people with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's have a parent, sibling or child who also has the disease. Scientists are searching for a gene or genes that might make you susceptible to IBD.
Environment Because IBD occurs more often among people living in cities and industrial nations, it's possible that environmental factors, including a diet high in fat or refined foods, may play a role.

Conventional Treatment

Diarrhea and cramps may be treated with anticholinergic drugs, loperamide (Imodium®), diphenoxylate (Lomotil®), or codeine. Anal irritation and loose stools can sometimes be improved by giving methylcellulose (e.g., Citrucel®) or psyllium preparations (e.g., Fiberall®, Konsyl®, Metamucil®, Perdiem®). Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine®) is used in patients with mild to moderate colitis. Corticosteroids may be used during acute exacerbations, although long-term corticosteroid therapy does more harm than good. Certain immunosuppressive drugs may also be effective, including azathioprine (Imuran®) and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP, Purinethol®). Secondary infections are managed with antibiotics.

Self Help

Diet & Nutrition

Nutritional Supplements

Fish oil: A special enteric-coated, "free fatty acid" form of EPA/DHA (providing 2.7 grams per day of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA) taken from fish oil may decrease inflammation associated with Crohn's disease.
Vitamin D: Malabsorption of vitamin D is common in Crohn's disease and can lead to a deficiency. Vitamin D has been shown to prevent bone loss in Crohn's patients.
Multiple vitamin/mineral: Crohn's disease often leads to malabsorption. As a result, inadequate levels of many nutrients are common. For this reason, it makes sense for people with Crohn's disease to take a high-potency multivitamin/mineral supplement. In particular, deficiencies in zinc, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and iron have been reported.
Saccharomyces boulardii: Diarrhea caused by Crohn's disease and other conditions has responded to Saccharomyces boulardii supplementation (250-500 mg two to three times per day) in double-blind research.
Zinc: 25-50 mg per day, balanced with 2-4 mg per day of copper.

Helpful Herbs

Agrimony
Aloe (Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis)
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Cranesbill (Geranium maculatum)
Green tea (Camellia sinensis)
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Herb combination: Marshmallow (Althea officinalis), Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva), and Cranesbill (Geranium maculatum) combination
Oak (Quercus spp.)
Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Helpful Lifestyle Changes

Quit smoking There is evidence that smoking worsens Crohn's.

Helpful Dietary Changes

Avoid sugar A person with Crohn's disease might consume more sugar than the average healthy person.
Reduce animal protein and fat: Reduce animal protein and fat (from foods other than fish) in the diet. Eat fish (3.5 to 7 ounces per day) instead of chicken, beef, or pork
Avoid food allergens: Some people with Crohn's disease have food allergies and have been reported to do better when they avoid foods to which they are allergic. Baker's yeast (found in bread and other bakery goods) is thought to be a possible trigger for Crohn's disease. Yeast and some cheeses are high in histamine, which is secreted during an allergic response. People with Crohn's lack the ability to break down histamine at a normal rate, so the link to yeast and dairy may not be coincidental.
Avoid nuts, raw fruit, and tomatoes, in selected cases: Some people find that these foods aggravate Crohn's symptoms; other foods may also cause problems. Elimination diets should be supervised by a qualified healthcare practitioner.
Avoid fast food

Studies

See Research for Crohn's Disease.

Ulcerative Colitis(IBD, crohn's disease)