Have you heard about this?

[tonya_n_ky]

I saw this in CVS the other day and got the site off the box to see what all it said, ect. and to get some opinions about it before I bought it...and still unsure so I figured I'd post and see if any of u have tried it and what results u have had, or if anyone knows anything about it.

Here's the link:

http://www.ganedenbiotech.com/prod_crohns_colitis.html

I can't seem to believe the "Eat what you want! Go where you want! All with newfound freedom!" Just don't think it's all that simple.

 

[killerzoey]

I haven't tried it. I agree that any product that comes on that strongly is suspicious, but Sacchromyces Boulardii is one ingredient that I have read may help people with Crohn's. I just read about this probiotic on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet website. It is a yeast, but it is useful as it displaces pathogenic yeasts, I believe.

I just Googled and found this link that I thought was interesting. It says there was a study that showed that taking meslamine + S. Boulardi produced a greater remission rate than the meslamine alone taken at greater dose. The study mentions the "product's cost". It's not cheap; after a brief scan of the internet it looks like it's probably about $50 a month if you take the 1mg/day they used in the study.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_6_5/ai_68727264

"The possible role of Saccharomyces boulardii, a nonpathogenic yeast with beneficial effects on the human intestine, in the maintenance treatment of Crohn's disease has been evaluated. Thirty-two patients with Crohn's disease in clinical remission (CDAI [is less than] 150) were randomly treated for six months with either mesalamine 1 g three times a day or mesalamine 1 g two times a day plus a preparation of Saccharomyces boulardii 1 g daily. Clinical relapses as assessed by CDAI values were observed in 37.5% of patients receiving mesalamine alone and in 6.25% of patients in the group treated with mesalamine plus the probiotic agent. Our results suggest that Saccharomyces boulardii may represent a useful tool in the maintenance treatment of Crohn's disease. However, in view of the product's cost, further controlled studies are needed to confirm these preliminary data."

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Just an afterthought - the SCD also mentions that it is not a good idea to start on probiotics until you've starved off the "bad guys"; that probiotics can cause more problems than they solve. Not sure if the category "probiotic" as used in what I read includes S. boulardii. I thought that was interesting to learn, though, as you hear so many people talk about taking probiotics.

 

[Kev]

Well, I sent for the free samples... But I'm pretty dubious. Read the 'testimonials', of which they're 3, and they seem pretty vague and general... and included one from a doctor who can neither spell nor spell check. anyway, life's a gamble... so I'll try it.

It seems to be way too good to be true (anyone believe in self fulfilling prophecies?)
that a pill with nothing more than a mixture of vitamins, probiotics, minerals, etc., can be a 'miracle' cure for the various illnesses they broad spectrum claim. and the cost?

Welllll, if it did work, I would rather pay for it than the potentially nasty drugs that I am currently taking... But it irks a little that the legitimate cost of this therapy is probably pennies, and yet the manufacturer's/distributors are profit margining this at the highest end of the scale.. (at least that's my personal belief/assumption)..

 

[Sojourn]

I'll go get some and also report back how it does. It seems to be similar to other probiotics which I'm already taking.

 

[DanSJVDavis]

I've tried it, but I don't think I gave it enough of a chance. Still, with the ingredient list, it's kinda like any other probiotic treatment, but with some vitamins to back it up. Could it hurt to go for it with your normal treatments? As my old doctor put it, couldn't hurt, might help. Is it the miracle treatment they claim? Probably not. When I took it I seemed to have more gas, so I didn't continue. Probably due to killing off the bad bacteria in my intestinal tract, but still something I didn't want, even if it might've eventually subsided.

Still, I'd be tempted to use it and that Activia and see how that goes. They're both supposed to regulate the digestive tract.

 

[DarrylP_Ajax]

It probably works, but i am going to put my money under the "its not going to work THAT good" category. There is no quick one-pill fix for crohns, we ALL know that. The blurb at the bottom of "one pill a day...keeps the CD away" sounds alot like the same advertising tactics they use in the body building industry. Take 3 of these pills a day for a month and you will gain 1lb of pure muscle a day and look like arnold by the end of the month. Its a little TOO good sounding, as goes with this product, little TOO good sounding, lol

 

[Sojourn]

I'm on the 2nd day and it does seem to have helped some with D, but no other noticeable differences so far. I start steroids tomorrow so that will probably make it difficult to tell if the Dig. Advantage is working or if it's the steroids.

 

[old hat]

http://www.ganedenbiotech.com/prod_crohns_colitis.html

I can't seem to believe the "Eat what you want! Go where you want! All with newfound freedom!" Just don't think it's all that simple.

You're right. It isn't.

There is a small kernel of information indicating that some of the stuff may be beneficil to some degree to people with IBD. Data on S boulardii is weak and preliminary. Data on Lactobacillus is inconsistent and somewhat disappointing in later, larger studies. The one study they have posted is very small and does not seem to have been published in any reputable, peer reviewed journal. This is very dubious.

Could it possibly be of some help? Yes. Does evidence support the hype and sweeping claims made about this product? No. Miracle cure? One a day magically eliminating your symptoms? Bull^%$#