Crohn's and Jewish Decent

[nikimazur]

I was brought up Catholic, with parents who were first descendent Polish and Italian immigrants. My father, who is Polish, is of Ashkenazic descent, was raised Catholic, but obviously had Jewish ancestors.


Though I know Crohns is not specific to certain religions or ethnicities, there are higher prevalences in Caucasians, and of the above mentioned Jewish community.

My question is this, has your doctor ever asked if you were of Jewish descent? Has any one else heard of this connection, or is this one of the random pseudo scientific connections that some quack has used to explain Crohns?


I found quite a few articles, both scientific (as in peer reviewed journals) and others like this http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/03/08/gene-mutations-linked-to-crohns-disease-in-ashkenazi-jews

Just a random thought I would throw out there.

 

[skippy111]

That is interesting Niki!
My Dr never asked me that but I have heard of certain medical conditions being prevalent in certain cultures.

 

[shamrock15]

At the time I was diagnosed in the late '80s, it was possibly the biggest "risk factor". Close by were higher education, and "first world" countries. Not sure if that has changed at all. This was from a booklet of information that my first GI gave me, based on research studies that had been done up to that time. For me, there isn't any Jewish blood as far as anyone in my family knows.