It is my understanding that in Crohn's disease the mucus is thicker than
normal. From this paper ion transporters control the viscosity/expansion of the mucus in the small intestine. It seems the way the mucus is supposed to work in the small intestine is to volume expand and flush the bacteria out of the crypts,if this does not happen then the bacteria can stay in the crypts.
The volume expansion is controlled by calcium ion, when bicarbonate is secreted into the mucus this chelates the calcium and the mucus expands and looses viscosity and then can flush bacteria. EDTA may also work in this manner.
I found this by researching colon mucus,which I believe is also the problem
with UC.
Whether oral bicarbonate will raise intestine bicarbonate ion or blood bicarbonate ion not sure,but it will change urine pH,so something is going on.
Probably best to take baking soda between meals so there is low hydrochloric acid in the stomach. 1/2 teaspoon total a day is probably a safe level,you do not want the urine pH too high for too long 1/4 teaspoon even safer.
Like I said its a wild guess,the paper is huge but compelling as to the mechanism of mucus expansion. It takes a little while to load.
Another way to perhaps increase alkalinity in the body is with an alkaline diet.
Of course the mucus in Crohn's might be defective in other ways and this
will not work. In the colon must have a thick inner mucus layer, with an expanded outer layer,so this is somewhat different than what goes on in the small intestine.
Old Mike
https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/2077/28487/1/gupea_2077_28487_1.pdf
normal. From this paper ion transporters control the viscosity/expansion of the mucus in the small intestine. It seems the way the mucus is supposed to work in the small intestine is to volume expand and flush the bacteria out of the crypts,if this does not happen then the bacteria can stay in the crypts.
The volume expansion is controlled by calcium ion, when bicarbonate is secreted into the mucus this chelates the calcium and the mucus expands and looses viscosity and then can flush bacteria. EDTA may also work in this manner.
I found this by researching colon mucus,which I believe is also the problem
with UC.
Whether oral bicarbonate will raise intestine bicarbonate ion or blood bicarbonate ion not sure,but it will change urine pH,so something is going on.
Probably best to take baking soda between meals so there is low hydrochloric acid in the stomach. 1/2 teaspoon total a day is probably a safe level,you do not want the urine pH too high for too long 1/4 teaspoon even safer.
Like I said its a wild guess,the paper is huge but compelling as to the mechanism of mucus expansion. It takes a little while to load.
Another way to perhaps increase alkalinity in the body is with an alkaline diet.
Of course the mucus in Crohn's might be defective in other ways and this
will not work. In the colon must have a thick inner mucus layer, with an expanded outer layer,so this is somewhat different than what goes on in the small intestine.
Old Mike
https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/2077/28487/1/gupea_2077_28487_1.pdf
Last edited:
