The Real Cause of Inflammation/Ulcers In Crohn’s Guts? (SHOCKING)

[Dave Watson]

The Real Cause of Inflammation/Ulcers In Crohn’s Guts? (SHOCKING)

This is the first of five articles about a completely new way to look at Crohn’s disease.

As I mentioned in my introductory post, the whole idea that Crohn’s is an autoimmune disease is being questioned and even undermined by recent research. For example, the paper below states that CD should be called a chronic inflammatory disorder and instead of an autoimmune disease.

“When a disorder like Crohn's disease responds to anti-inflammatory treatment but does not meet accepted criteria of autoimmunity, we submit that it should preferably be called a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown cause, in which case nothing is implied and nothing is assumed. Emerging genetic and immunological data suggest that Crohn's disease is not an autoimmune disorder...”
Source: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/la...282-6/fulltext​

Also, more and more evidence proves Crohn’s sufferers have a WEAK immune response instead of aggressive one that would explain the cause of inflammation and ulcers

In Crohn’s disease, a constitutionally weak immune response predisposes to accumulation of intestinal contents that breach the mucosal barrier of the bowel wall.
Source: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(06)68265-2/abstract​

The cause of Crohn’s disease (CD) remains poorly understood. Counterintuitively, these patients possess an impaired acute inflammatory response, which could result in delayed clearance of bacteria penetrating the lining.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2737162/​

recent molecular biological and clinical investigations indicate that CD is actually a primary immunodeficiency. 9
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20594132​

Given the above research (and there’s more), we have to seriously question the theory that CD is an autoimmune disease and whether an aggressive immune response is really the cause of the inflammation and ulcers in the guts of CD sufferers. If we are objective, there really is NO evidence to support the current theory of Crohn’s. In fact, all the available evidence suggests the exact opposite: Crohn’s is not an autoimmune disease and Crohn’s sufferers have a weak immune response and not an aggressive one.

So, if an aggressive immune response is not causing the inflammation and ulcers, what is?

Before I share with you what I’m certain is causing the inflammation/ulcers, I want you to consider this fact. There are bacteria that ferment sugars to produce acid that can destroy the hardest substance in our body! In our mouth, bacteria (Strep and others) ferment sugars to produce lactic acid that creates holes in teeth or completely destroys them. A colony of Strep, invisible to the naked eye, can create big hole in a tooth exponentially greater than the size of the colony. So, if bacteria can damage teeth via acid production in such a devastating way, under the right conditions, could bacteria in the guts of Crohn’s sufferers cause the inflammation/ulcers? (It's estimated that there are more bacteria in the gut than cells in the body - that's a lot of bacteria!)

This study shows a link between Crohn's and dental disease.

Dental status in CD patients is poor... patients with CD belong to a high-risk group, and preventive measures should be taken early in the course of the disease.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14571099​

Here’s what I’m certain is causing the inflammation/ulcers in the guts of CD sufferers. This explanation gets a little technical but it’s well worth the effort to understand it.

Normally, immune cells (macrophages) protect the gut lining from damage by bacteria. However, when there’s too much of protein called TNF (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) in the local environment, it affects their normal behavior and the immune cells don’t protect the gut-lining from damage by bacteria.

Certain bacteria ferment carbohydrates (sugars/starches) and produce acid as a by-product. In Crohn’s, the inflammation/ulcers are CAUSED by acid-producing bacteria along the gut lining. The acid produced by the bacteria BURNS the gut-lining causing the inflammation and ulcers. It’s SHOCKING, I know, but there's overwhelming evidence to support it! Let me show you the evidence by asking a series of questions and then answering them.

If bacteria ferment carbs to produce acid, is there any evidence that sugar/starch consumption is linked to Crohn’s?

ABSOLUTELY! There’s around 12 independent studies from a number of countries that suggest carbohydrates are somehow linked to the onset and development of CD. Here’s just a few.

A diet high in refined sugar and low in raw fruit and vegetables precedes and may favour the development of Crohn's disease.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/519184

Sugar consumption was significantly increased in Crohn's disease
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6832625

A high sucrose consumption was associated with an increased risk for IBD
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9245929

Our data confirm that patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have a high intake of total carbohydrate, starch and refined sugar
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7866810

consumption of sugars and sweeteners, sweets...were positively associated with CD risk
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15677909​

Is there any evidence that reducing carb consumption improves Crohn’s?

Yes, a recent study, using a diet based on SCD, improved ALL CD patients and virtually all were off anti-TNF medication.

9 out of 11 patients were able to be managed without anti-TNF therapy, and 100% of the patients had their symptoms reduced.
Source: http://works.bepress.com/barbara_olendzki/46/​

This study used a sugar-free diet for maintenance of remission.

Sugar-free diet as long-term or interval treatment in the remission phase of Crohn disease--a prospective stud
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6135129​

There's also successful studies based on elemental diets. And there's a very significant amount of anecdotal evidence too.

Although the current medical consensus is that diet is not related to CD, three modern practitioners have independently discovered this perception to be false.

• Robert C. Atkins, M.D. states in his book, Dr. Atkins’ Vita-Nutrient Solution, that he has a 85 percent success rate of treating CD patients with a sugar-restricted (low carbohydrate) diet and high doses of B-vitamins, including folic acid and pantethine.

• Wolfgang Lutz, M.D., a medical clinician in Austria has a success rate of over 90 percent when treating his patients with a low carbohydrate diet for at least one year.

• Elaine Gottschall, M.S. has had remarkable success at healing others suffering from Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis with a specific carbohydrate diet (SCD), even curing her own daughter.

• John Yudkin, M.D. states in his book, Sweet and Dangerous, that he has successfully used a low carbohydrate diet to treat a variety of gastrointestinal ailments. In one study he achieved a 70 percent success rate.

Source: http://pecanbread.com/healingcrow/dietsmain/crohn/crohn.html​

This is a Youtube video of Alex Herring who used a low-carb diet to achieve and maintain long-term remission (8 years plus): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3alTJXEULk

Is there any evidence that bacteria are penetrating the gut-lining and immune cells (macrophages) not removing bacteria from the gut lining?

These papers/studies discuss bacteria penetrating the gut-lining.

In Crohn’s disease, a constitutionally weak immune response predisposes to accumulation of intestinal contents that breach the mucosal barrier of the bowel wall.
Source: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(06)68265-2/abstract

The cause of Crohn’s disease (CD) remains poorly understood. Counterintuitively, these patients possess an impaired acute inflammatory response, which could result in delayed clearance of bacteria penetrating the lining.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2737162/

Crohn's disease: Bacterial clearance in Crohn's disease pathogenesis
Source: http://www.nature.com/nrgastro/journal/v7/n3/full/nrgastro.2010.1.html
​

This study found that immune cells were less able to remove dead cells in a TNF-rich environment. If they are not removing dead cells, it's quite possible they are not removing bacteria along the gut lining.

Overall, the data suggest that macrophages in a TNF-alpha- and oxidant-rich inflammatory environment are less able to remove apoptotic cells and, thereby, may contribute to the local intensity of the inflammatory response.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17548650​

Is there any evidence that acid burn is causing the inflammation/ulcers in the guts of Crohn’s sufferers?

Diseased sections of Crohn's guts are typically deformed, thickened and/or scared.

This study discusses stricture formation in Crohn's.

Intestinal fibroblasts in CD possess enhanced capacity for collagen reorganization and contractile activity in vitro. This activity may be responsible for stricture formation in CD.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1420964/​

This study discusses stricture formation following acid burn.

Acid burns of the upper gastrointestinal tract produce a complex combination of lesions
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8971503​

This paper discusses gut thickening in Crohn's and which is similar to a rat model where acid was used to induce disease.

In areas of gross stricture in CD, the muscularis mucosae comprised almost 10% of total wall thickness. Similar findings were also present in a previously characterized experimental model of CD (trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in rats), particularly in what appeared to be grossly strictured areas.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2020666​

Here's some other similarities between Crohn's and acid burn:

Crohn's is linked to vitamin D deficiency low bone mineral density.

"Our data suggests, for the first time, that Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to Crohn's disease,"
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100127104904.htm

Low bone mineral density is frequently associated with Crohn's disease. Supplementation with daily calcium and vitamin D is associated with increases in bone mineral density. The addition of oral etidronate does not further enhance bone mineral density.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15704046​

Acid burns are linked to calcium wasting and vitamin D deficiency.

Thus, burn injury gives rise to calcium wasting, failure of bone to take up excessive calcium, and vitamin D insufficiency to frank deficiency.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22332088​

Type V collagen is increased in Crohn’s.

In strictured intestine both collagen content and the relative amount of type V collagen were significantly increased compared with control intestine.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3335305​

Type V collagen in increased in burn tissues.

Our data demonstrate that type V collagen in preparations from human post-burn granulation tissues consists of 3 alpha chains and can be resolved into 2 distinct heterotrimers.
Source: http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v87/n4/abs/5614183a.html​

Proteolytic activity is increased in Crohn's.

Proteolytic and leucine aminopeptidase activity levels in faeces from patients with Crohn’s disease and healthy subjects were compared and were found to be 2.5 and 6 times higher, respectively, in patients with Crohn’s disease.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3069527​

Proteolytic activity is increased in burns.

This increased proteolysis may play a role in wound repair and scar formation.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16984440​

The inflammatory response in Crohn's has been studied for several decades. The inflammatory response in burns has been extensively studied too. Both involve iNOS, PGE2, IL-6, IFN-y expression and much more. I spent a considerable amount of time comparing them and they are the SAME! Here's some specific examples.

IL-22/3 & IL-17 pro-inflammatory cytokines are “fundamentally connected” to Crohn’s.

Our findings suggest that activation of the IL-23/IL-17 axis is fundamentally connected to the etiology of CD and may represent the basis for the relapsing nature of the disease by increasing the sensitivity of epithelium to microbial LPS.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18512248​

The Th17 cytokine IL-22 is expressed at high levels in CD and correlates with disease activity
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubme/18022867​

IL-17 and IL-22 are also found following a deliberate burn.

Recently, a novel class of T-helper cells, termed Th-17 cells, has been found to secrete the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and IL-22.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21353393​

Th1/Th17 cells are considered characteristic of Crohn's

Th1 and Th17 pathways are implicated in Crohn's disease (CD).
Source: http://gut.bmj.com/content/60/Suppl_1/A212.1.abstract​

Th1/Th17 cells can be generated following a burn injury.

Th17 cells critical mediators of host responses to burn injury and sepsis.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22753950​

Thus, burn injury primed native T cells for an enhanced Th1-type response.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9706148​

This year I intend to have analyzed resections from multiple Crohn's sufferers by experts in the field of burns. I'm sure they will conclude that the thickening, deformation and scaring is caused by acid burn.

So, If Crohn’s sufferers eat a low-carb diet will the inflammation/ulcers heal quickly?

Unfortunately, probably not! Normal gut bacteria cause the inflammation/ulcers but something else prevents them from healing or delays the healing process. I will cover this in my next article.

Here's a simple diagram that sums up this article.

This is a potentially a huge breakthrough in Crohn's so let's debate it in an intelligent manner :thumright:

 

[Ihurt]

I absolutely agree with this theory. I also think Bacteria are the cause of A lot of these chronic diseases. I have not been dx yet, but I have a lot of digestive pain and issues. I also have a disease of the bladder called interstitial cystits in which "they" say is autoimmune. But oddly enough, I only get relief while on certain antibiotics! I have had to be on low dose antibitoics for over 4 years now as that is the ONLY thing that brings me relief.

It took them forever to find out that bleeding stomach ulcers are caused by the bacterium helicobator pylori. I know that a friend of mine see's a osteopathic doctor who treats a lady who had severe crohns disease. She was told by her gastro surgeon that she had to have her colon removed it was so bad. Well she decided to work with this osteopath doc and he put her on a strict diet, I mean mainly just juicing and a whole food diet. Within a year she no longer suffers at all. I mean can you imagine if she had let that surgeon take out her colon?? I know everyone is different and everyone's disease is different in how it will effect them. But I do think that bacteria and low immune system does play a role in it. When the immune system is low, then nothing in your body is going to run right and that can lead to all sorts of issues. I Hate when they say that these autoimmune diseases are caused by an over-active immune system. There is NO proof of that . I rather like to call it a malfunctioning immune system as opposed to a over active immune system.

No doubt that this disease and many other chronic diseases are very complex. Another thing I thought about is that could it be that our cortisol levels have something to do with the bodies ability to heal. I mean when a person has crohns, right away the doctors answer is to treat with prednisone. Well prednisone messes with the cortisol levels. I kind of think prednisone is like a bandaid. It takes down inflammation due to it's anti-inflammatory effects, but at the same time it lowers ones immunity leaving the body wide open for other things to attack. I mean it is only good for very short term and temporary. I mean it seems like when one stops the prednisone, symptoms return quickly which would make sense if crohns was caused by a bacteria. I mean when you are on steroids, yeah it is keeping the inflammtion down for the moment, but when you get off of them your immune system is so low from being on steroids and vunerable that symptoms will come back that quicker, it is easier for bacteria to take hold again. It is just a theory, but it makes sense.

 

[Beach]

Interesting, and thanks for writing up. It is interesting how many diseases seem to have a connection to dental health. Have you read some of Weston Price's writings about how he was able to prevent cavities in most patients? I remember some of his writings mentioning that he found after patients avoided modern processed grains, plus took vitamin D3, butter oil (vitamin K2?), and cod liver oil "harmful" bacteria levels in their saliva dropped significantly.

I don't have Crohn's but found after I followed similar ideas mentioned by Dr. Price that my gut condition improved greatly, and cavity formation all but stopped. I used to develop cavities very easily. I used to joke with the dentist that he should place a plaque on a wall with my name, dedicating a room to me.

Just saw this sight and thought it look interesting also.

www.healthymouthsummit.com

 

[Hope345]

thanks so much for these posts.

 

[Sarah50]

Wow, thanks Dave, for the compelling information on Crohn's and its possible causes. It makes total sense so far! I, for one, have had problems with my teeth over the years. I actually had a lot of dental work last year, took antibiotics (amoxycillin) 3 times last year, started having crohn's symptoms around October and was diagnosed with crohn's by the end of November.

I also had vitmain D deficiency about a year ago or so.

I've been put on a low residue diet (doc says for life because of stricturing), Asacol and have been 'in remission' - no symptoms for the past month. I've been *craving* sugar like crazy, I don't know why... maybe from the lack of fresh fruits and veggies?? There are lots of carbs on the low residue diet. I looked at the SCD diet and that is way too restrictive for me. But maybe, in time, I can try a low carb diet and see what happens. I'm just afraid of the stricturing and want to avoid surgery.

Anyway, thank you for all of the work and research you've done and sharing it with us!! I look forward to reading through the links and look forward to your other articles.

 

[D Bergy]

Interesting information.

Has any of this research identified specific pathogens?

I have personally dealt with E-Coli, MAP, H-Pylori and Mycoplasma Pnuemonia
I am not sure these are always present with all cases of Crohn's but they were all factors in mine.

Dan

 

[Dave Watson]

That's coming in a later article Dan where I explain how AIEC and MAP are indirectly responsible for the inflammation and ulcers.

Recent research has found 92% of CD sufferers infected with MAP, and up to 36% of sufferers infected with AIEC. If this research is fairly representative, it's quite possible all Crohn's sufferers are infected with either MAP, AIEC or both.

Interesting information.

Has any of this research identified specific pathogens?

I have personally dealt with E-Coli, MAP, H-Pylori and Mycoplasma Pnuemonia
I am not sure these are always present with all cases of Crohn's but they were all factors in mine.

Dan

 

[Polaris]

Thank you so much for this article (and the ones to come). Very interesting to read. I completely agree that Crohn's is not an autoimmune disorder.

 

[superzeeman]

Fantastic information! I truly beleive that this is not an autoimmune disorder. I just cant figure out what to eat that never has processed grains and sugars.

 

[PollyH]

I agree that the production of D-lactic acid by the intestinal bacteria is quite detrimental. I also agree that the exposure to LPS from gram negative bacteria is very inflammatory. Those two problems --- excess D-lactic acid and exposure to LPS --- are at the heart of the intestinal problems suffered by people with Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). (I'm a moderator on a SIBO group. We are talking about Crohn's, right now, so I stopped by your group to see what the connection was to Crohn's.)

I believe the inflammation characteristic of Crohn's can initiate a case of SIBO. Also, I think SIBO can alter hormones and the immune system in such a way as to make a case of Crohn's more serious. Yet, there must be something else unique going on with Crohn's, or all the people with SIBO would be showing up with Crohn's and colitis.

From what I've read, it is the way the immune system deals with yeast / fungus that is unique to Crohn's and colitis. There is an increased load of yeast / fungus in those with Crohn's and colitis, partly because the immune system is having a difficult time removing it. For instance, the MAP bacteria interfere with the removal of yeast by macrophages. This interference increases inflammation.

A lack of Dectin-1 has been associated with increased severity of colitis in humans and mice. A lack of Dectin-1 can be genetic, and a lack of this has been shown to interfere with the removal of yeast by macrophages. This immune weakness increases inflammation. When you induce colitis in dectin-1 deficient mice, the colitis isn't as severe if you give an anti-fungal.

The AIEC bacteria replicates within macrophages. I would assume that this would also interfere with the removal of yeast by macrophages.

There is a full text article available for free that talks about colitis and an impairment in the ability of the macrophages to remove yeast/fungus. Here is the link and a quote.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3432565/

"Fungi are recognized by a number of immune receptors among which Dectin-1 has emerged as key for phagocytosis and killing by myeloid phagocytes. Dectin-1 is a C-type lectin receptor that recognizes β-1,3-glucans found in the cell walls of nearly all fungi. Dectin-1 activates intracellular signals through CARD9 leading to inflammatory cytokine production and induction of T helper 17 (Th17) immune responses (10-13). Deficiencies in either Dectin-1 or CARD9 result in enhanced susceptibility to pathogenic fungal infections in humans and mice (14-16). Polymorphic variants in the gene for CARD9 are strongly associated with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in humans (17, 18). Furthermore, anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) against yeast mannan have been strongly associated with Crohn’s disease (19, 20). Together, these later findings suggest a possible link between immune responses to commensal fungi and intestinal disease."

 

[wild_one353]

I believe the term you are using, this "acid burn" is pretty non-scientific, and doesn't represent any specific concept related to ibd nor can be found in the scientific literature used in the same way that you use it. There are many types of acids in nature, like lactic acid which is produced under natural fermentation of dietary fibers by probiotic bacteria in the intestine which are anti-inflammatory, or even butyric acid(butyrate), which is highly anti-inflammatory, http://gut.bmj.com/content/47/3/397.full and resolves inflammation in IBD. So there is no justification to say all acids cause IBD inflammation, if any acids do, which specific acid's are you talking about?

So i am wondering how you know or reason that an "acid burn" is responsible for inflammation of the colon? my guess is, you do not know this but may have simply made this up or from poorly interpreting(umm manipulating) the scientific literature.

Is there any evidence that acid burn is causing the inflammation/ulcers in the guts of Crohn’s sufferers?

Diseased sections of Crohn's guts are typically deformed, thickened and/or scared.

This study discusses stricture formation in Crohn's.

Intestinal fibroblasts in CD possess enhanced capacity for collagen reorganization and contractile activity in vitro. This activity may be responsible for stricture formation in CD.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1420964/​

this reference does not support the claim that acid burn causes ibd inflammation. they were comparing fibrolasts from uc to crohns to get new information about how strictures form. No mention of any sort of acids causing inflammation.

This study discusses stricture formation following acid burn.

Acid burns of the upper gastrointestinal tract produce a complex combination of lesions
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8971503​

the acid burns they are talking about in the above study you posted are from common household cleaners (muriatic acid) that people are using to attempt suicide, and are NOT the same as what is going on in IBD, therefore the reference you provided does not support nor prove the claim "acid burns cause crohns disease" the study above has no mention or anything to do with any form of IBD.

here is the full version of your reference, everyone feel free to read it yourself.
http://ejcts.oxfordjournals.org/content/10/11/934.full.pdf

This paper discusses gut thickening in Crohn's and which is similar to a rat model where acid was used to induce disease.

In areas of gross stricture in CD, the muscularis mucosae comprised almost 10% of total wall thickness. Similar findings were also present in a previously characterized experimental model of CD (trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in rats), particularly in what appeared to be grossly strictured areas.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2020666​

the acid they use for this disease model of colitis is not naturally found in the intestine, and does not, nor is not meant to fully replicate what is going on in IBD. its used to artificially induce inflammation for general studies and observations, and does not accurately represent what is happening in IBD, scientists know it is only a model of the the inflammation they have created themselves and not the real thing. Therefore, this provides no evidence that "all or any acids cause IBD or inflammation"

QUOTE-The 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced murine colitis represents an experimental model for human Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). In this model, mice receive an enema containing the contact
sensitizing allergen TNBS in ethanol; the latter of which is given to break the mucosal barrier and allow penetration of TNBS into the bowel wall. This acute model rapidly induces colonic inflammation in a reproducible manner and represents a low-cost, high throughput model.

this quote and link is from a company that provides scientific services and genetic resources to laboratories around the world.
http://jaxmice.jax.org/literature/f...Services_Sample_TNBS_Induced_IBD_Protocol.pdf
http://www.jax.org/

do you have any references to what this computer generated diagram is supposed to represent? its not a real photo so i suppose it could represent anything right? it could even represent nothing at all.




IN CLOSING:
Hopefully the readers of this thread can now see some of the flaws in Dave Watson's theory and reasoning, and that the term "acid burns" has no solid foundation in the scientific literature.

Otherwise butyric acid(butyrate) has been shown to be antiinflammatory.
http://gut.bmj.com/content/47/3/397.full

Again, Dave Watson has provided no justification for the claim that all acids or any acids in general cause IBD inflammation. It is a very broad, general, ambiguous and inaccurate claim, with no scientific basis.It is a poor interpretation of scientific studies. IT is made up, and fictional.

 

[Dave Watson]

Your comment is complete rubbish and you've ignored the detailed argument and the flow of logic. You need to re-read the whole article!

I show that the idea that CD is an autoimmune disease is very unlikely, and also unlikely is an aggressive immune response considering there are numerous studies that demonstrate that CD sufferers have a weak immune response, unless you intend to twist that somehow.

I've demonstrated a carb link to Crohn's. I've demonstrated that reducing carb comsumption improves Crohn's. That in itself suggests carbs are being used by bacteria.

I have shown bacteria are penetrating the gut lining. Now, connect the dots!

If bacteria in the mouth can produce acid to cause dental disease, could bacteria in the gut produce acid to cause the inflammation/ulcers? Of course they could! I do not know the specific acid being produced, more research will identify that!

I have shown the numerous links between acid burn and Crohn's, including the similarity between CD inflammatory response and a burn inflammatory response.

The diseased tissue in Crohn's can thicken, deform and scar - this is exactly what happens with tissue burns!

All the science is there.

As I mentioned above, I intend to have resections from Crohn's sufferers analyzed by experts in the field of burns, whom I'm sure will confirm that acid burn is responsible for the deformation, scarring and thickening.

Next time before commenting, drop your silly ego! The science above is OVERWHELMING!

So there is no justification for claiming all acids in general cause IBD inflammation. It is a very broad, general, ambiguous and inaccurate claim, with no scientific basis. IT is simply, made up, and fictional.

 

[kiny]

You are saying if you remove the TNF-alpha the crohn's disease improves, the main issue is too much TNF-alpha which is behind tissue damage etc?

 

[Dave Watson]

Yes, kiny! In my next article I will explain how excess TNF prevents the inflammation/ulcers from healing!

You are saying if you remove the TNF-alpha the crohn's disease improves, the main issue is too much TNF-alpha which is behind tissue damage etc?

 

[kiny]

Yes, kiny! In my next article I will explain how excess TNF prevents the inflammation/ulcers from healing!

Right, can you explain why etanercept, which is just as effective as infliximab for neutralizing TNF-alpha does not help for crohn's disease at all but infliximab does?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12806611

 

[Dave Watson]

I will cover it in my next article. But, it’s simple matter of digging to connect the dots. For example, if CD is all about TNF, then why would Stelara help when it blocks two proteins called IL-12 and IL-23? TNF is considered the master regulator, so is TNF and IL-12 and IL-23 connected? If you dig deep enough you’ll find they are

So, what is it about etanercept that makes it ineffective for CD? Here's a start kiny: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12806611 but I'll cover it in the next article.

Right, can you explain why etanercept, which is just as effective as infliximab for neutralizing TNF-alpha does not help for crohn's disease at all but infliximab does?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12806611

 

[Dave Watson]

NO! It will be covered in my next article. It's quite rude to demand answers considering I'm the author of this thread!

We either debate my article in a friendly and intelligent manner, or DO NOT comment in this thread.

You can cover it now we can wait.

 

[wild_one353]

Your comment is complete rubbish and you've ignored the detailed argument and the flow of logic. You need to re-read the whole article!

I shown that the idea that CD is an autoimmune disease is very unlikely, and also unlikely is an aggressive immune response considering there are numerous studies that demonstrate that CD sufferers have a weak immune response, unless you intend to twist that somehow.

I've demonstrated a carb link to Crohn's. I've demonstrated that reducing carb comsumption improves Crohn's. That in itself suggests carbs are being used by bacteria.

I have shown bacteria are penetrating the gut lining. Now, connect the dots!

If bacteria in the mouth can produce acid to cause dental disease, could bacteria in the gut produce acid to cause the inflammation/ulcers? Of course they could! I do not know the specific acid being produced, more research will identify that!

I have shown the numerous links between acid burn and Crohn's, including the similarity between CD inflammatory response and a burn inflammatory response.

The diseased tissue in Crohn's can thicken, deform and scar - this is exactly what happens with tissue burns!

All the science is there.

As I mentioned above, I intend to have resections from Crohn's sufferers analyzed by experts in the field of burns, whom I'm sure will confirm that acid burn is responsible for the deformation, scarring and thickening.

Next time before commenting, drop your silly ego! The science above is OVERWHELMING!

Dear Mr. Watson,
I am asking politely if you could please explain what you mean by saying my comment is "complete rubbish"? Please, be specific, which parts are "complete rubbish".

Thank you kind sir.

 

[Dave Watson]

It's quite obvious you are not interested in debating this article in an intelligent and friendly manner. In fact, I think your goal is to undermine it.

I will PM David now and ask him to remove your posts and prevent you from commenting in my threads any further.

Hopefully the readers of this thread can now see some of the flaws in Dave Watson's theory and reasoning, and that the term "acid burns" has no solid foundation in the scientific literature.

Otherwise butyric acid(butyrate) has been shown to be antiinflammatory.
http://gut.bmj.com/content/47/3/397.full

Again, Dave Watson has provided no justification for the claim that all acids or any acids in general cause IBD inflammation. It is a very broad, general, ambiguous and inaccurate claim, with no scientific basis.It is a poor interpretation of scientific studies. IT is made up, and fictional.

Dear Mr. Watson,
I am asking politely if you could please explain what you mean by saying my comment is "complete rubbish"? Please, be specific.

Thank you kind sir.

 

[Dave Watson]

Let me do a quick summary of my article.

We do not know the cause of CD, so we have to completely open-minded. Decades ago Barry Marshall suggested bacteria could cause stomach inflammation and ulcers and he was laughed at. But, with persistence he was proven right.

Today, I’m suggesting bacteria ferment sugars to produce acid that cause the inflammation/ulcers in Crohn’s. Initially, it’s hard to believe but my article makes a compelling argument.

There’s no evidence that Crohn’s is an autoimmune disease or CD sufferers have an aggressive immune response. In fact, the available evidence suggests the exact opposite. So, what is causing the tissue damage?

Sugars and starches are linked to Crohn’s.

Sugar/starch reduction can improve Crohn’s

Bacteria penetrating the gut lining is proven in Crohn’s.

We know dental disease is caused by bacteria in the mouth fermenting sugars to produce acid, so could this occur in the gut? Of course it’s possible.

I’ve shown all the evidence linking Crohn’s and an acid burn.

The diseased tissue in Crohn’s can be deformed, thickened and scarred! Deformity, thickening and scarring occur in acid burns!

My goal now is to have experts in the field of burns analyse the deformed, thickened and scarred tissue from Crohn’s sufferers to see if there’s evidence of acid burning, and I’m confident they will find it.This potentially a huge breakthrough in Crohn’s!

In my next article I show overwhelming evidence why the inflammation/ulcers don't heal or heal very slowly, again this is potentially, another huge breakthrough in Crohn's.

 

[rollinstone]

Let me do a quick summary of my article.

We do not know the cause of CD, so we have to completely open-minded. Decades ago Barry Marshall suggested bacteria could cause stomach inflammation and ulcers and he was laughed at. But, with persistence he was proven right.

Today, I’m suggesting bacteria ferment sugars to produce acid that cause the inflammation/ulcers in Crohn’s. Initially, it’s hard to believe but my article makes a compelling argument.

There’s no evidence that Crohn’s is an autoimmune disease or CD sufferers have an aggressive immune response. In fact, the available evidence suggests the exact opposite. So, what is causing the tissue damage?

Sugars and starches are linked to Crohn’s.

Sugar/starch reduction can improve Crohn’s

Bacteria penetrating the gut lining is proven in Crohn’s.

We know dental disease is caused by bacteria in the mouth fermenting sugars to produce acid, so could this occur in the gut? Of course it’s possible.

I’ve shown all the evidence linking Crohn’s and an acid burn.

The diseased tissue in Crohn’s can be deformed, thickened and scarred! Deformity, thickening and scarring occur in acid burns!

My goal now is to have experts in the field of burns analyse the deformed, thickened and scarred tissue from Crohn’s sufferers to see if there’s evidence of acid burning, and I’m confident they will find it.This potentially a huge breakthrough in Crohn’s!

In my next article I show overwhelming evidence why the inflammation/ulcers don't heal or heal very slowly, again this is potentially, another huge breakthrough in Crohn's.

Dave, I appreciate the research you have done, but you use the word "evidence" too much and I think that's what frustrates wildbill and kiny, because the fact is its not evidence, it is however an interesting hypothesis, and there could certainly be a link to fermented carbs and acid development in the gut when one considers dental issues, but the pH of the gut and mouth are so vastly different not to mention other acids used in some of the links in which researchers purposely used to induce acid burn. In summary, I am glad you are looking into this as I think all leads need to be followed in regards to Crohn's. But it's not evidence until its been proven, and even then, giving the nature of science there's always a chance of variance.

 

[Dave Watson]

Thanks for your comment Joshuaaa.

Although, I do believe I've used the term 'evidence' accurately. For example:

There is significant evidence that carbs are somehow linked to Crohn's. The most recent study showed that reducing carbs improved Crohn's, and this is supported by other studies.

There is evidence of bacteria penetrating the gut lining, as mentioned in the above studies.

There is evidence that diseased tissue is thickened, scarred and deformed.

There is no evidence that Crohn's is an autoimmune disease or CD sufferers have an aggressive immune response.

Dave, I appreciate the research you have done, but you use the word "evidence" too much and I think that's what frustrates wildbill and kiny, because the fact is its not evidence, it is however an interesting hypothesis, and there could certainly be a link to fermented carbs and acid development in the gut when one considers dental issues, but the pH of the gut and mouth are so vastly different not to mention other acids used in some of the links in which researchers purposely used to induce acid burn. In summary, I am glad you are looking into this as I think all leads need to be followed in regards to Crohn's. But it's not evidence until its been proven, and even then, giving the nature of science there's always a chance of variance.

 

[rollinstone]

When you state it simply and concisely like that one can certainly see why your hypothesis should be tested. But how would one get evidence that it is infact those same fermented carbs that are causing the burning, for instance, say we get the resected pieces of human gut, you would need healthy gut as well as a control, I don't see how it could happen, how will they be able to determine whether or not the acid indeed caused the inflammation and ulceration, also how come the ulceration in Crohn's seems to be patchy through out the infected region. (I'm not asking you directly, just saying there are other variables to consider)

 

[Dave Watson]

Thanks Josh, that's the whole point in posting the article. There's enough evidence to seriously pursue this.

At the end of my next article I will do a quick summary to simplify the points I'm making.

Give me some time and I'll respond to your main question.

When you state it simply and concisely like that one can certainly see why your hypothesis should be tested. But how would one get evidence that it is infact those same fermented carbs that are causing the burning, for instance, say we get the resected pieces of human gut, you would need healthy gut as well as a control, I don't see how it could happen, how will they be able to determine whether or not the acid indeed caused the inflammation and ulceration, also how come the ulceration in Crohn's seems to be patchy through out the infected region. (I'm not asking you directly, just saying there are other variables to consider)

 

[nitty]

Speaking as a lay person, and not very scientifically knowledgable, please can you explain how, if CD is caused by a weakened immune system, how is it that drugs which suppress the immune system then improve my symptoms?

Please note: I am not asking this to doubt your information, it's just that I don't really understand how it works.

 

[Beach]

Just to throw some contrarian information out there - at least on the dentist part - and it was something I even mentioned in an earlier post about the connection to dental health, bacteria and other health conditions - i don't believe that it has been proven that bacteria, acid and sugars cause dental decay. it is a theory, but from at least what I read in the book Cure Tooth Decay by Ramiel Nagel it has not been proven. Additionally, bacteria will perish in a 20% or greater sugar solution. If dentistry is correct about bacteria, then a high sugar diet should eliminate tooth decay.

Tooth decay has been created in studies with a diet low in vitamin C. And overall, it seems that the theories about diet, lack of nutrition, and hormones produced in the body play a central role in causing dental issues and is more likely than bacteria.

 

[Ihurt]

Steroids are like a bandaid. They do NOT really cure anything. They help with inflammation more so, but not actually the disease itself which is why when you stop the steroids, the pain and inflammation come right back. Think about it, they put people on steroids for a lot of different health issues. Just back in august I had a nasty sinus thing going on and I was put on the steorids for a week. Yeah, it helped me some with taking down the inflammation but as soon as I stopped them, my issues did come back.

As far this whole discussion goes on what causes crohns, well that is the million dollar question. We can go round and round trying to figure it out, but in the end, it is way to complex! Each individual is different and there may be MANY cuases out there. Do I think it is autoimmune?? NO, I dont. Autoimmune is just a word they like to throw around when they have NO clue what is wrong with you. After battling chronic illness for the last 9 years I can say with complete certainty that doctors do NOT have much knowledge when it comes to these chronic diseases.

Example: You take one person with crohns and they get drastically better while taking antibiotics. Well in that case, maybe a bacteria is the cause. Yet you can have another person with crohns who takes antibiotics and gets NO relief. Maybe that persons crohn's is caused by something else. Also I am betting there are other diseases out there that mimic crohn's disease, but is something different all together. Unfortunately, doctors just do not know the amswers to this. Neither do the researchers.


Sure, Barry Marshall did come to find that "most" stomach ulcers were due to the H-pylori bacteria. That was a great find indeed. In fact I can bet almost anything that ALL chronic diseases are caused by an infection of some sort. Bacterial, viral, parasitic, I mean the list can go on and on. Also the way a persons body reacts is also an important factor. This is where immune system comes into play. Some people with crohn's manage the disease ok for the most part and likley because they have a strong immune system that keeps things at bay. Then you have ones that are doing very bad, well for those it is due to a weak immune system. That makes more sense than saying these diseases are autoimmune and due to an overactive immune system.

I had a friend who had lupus years ago. She suffered greatly with it. Well one day she caught a cold and within a month she died from it. It messed her lungs up very bad. The doctors of course were quick to tell her husband that it was because her body was attacking itself. No, I am sorry, but I tend to think more on the side of that her immune system was just so weak that the cold set into a motion a nasty infection that she could not fight. I often wonder if giving steroids to people in the presence of these infectious type diseases makes them worse since steroids are known to lower your immune system. I mean I think maybe people get this false feeling of wellness while on steroids because yes, steroids do take inflamation down, but they are not really doing anything for the disease itself.

Anyhow, bottom line is this, yeah, it would be great if someone could come up with a reason for crohn's and many other chronic diseases out there, but it is just so complex. I mean each person is different in their makeup, no person is the same. This is why not one treatment will work for every person. It also has a lot to do with our DNA. Why do you think when people were dying like flies back when the black plague was around, yet there were people who were not affected by it at all. Immune system does play a big role in this, but when I say immune system, I do not mean like autoimmune. That is a ******** word that some doctor came up with. I mean more like some people having a weaker immune deficiency than others do.

Speaking as a lay person, and not very scientifically knowledgable, please can you explain how, if CD is caused by a weakened immune system, how is it that drugs which suppress the immune system then improve my symptoms?

Please note: I am not asking this to doubt your information, it's just that I don't really understand how it works.

 

[Clash]

Steroids are like a bandaid. They do NOT really cure anything. They help with inflammation more so, but not actually the disease itself which is why when you stop the steroids, the pain and inflammation come right back. Think about it, they put people on steroids for a lot of different health issues. Just back in august I had a nasty sinus thing going on and I was put on the steorids for a week. Yeah, it helped me some with taking down the inflammation but as soon as I stopped them, my issues did come back.

Nitty, was probably referring to the immunosuppressants like Imuran/6MP/Methotrexate which are the maintenance meds often used to keep CD under control once tapered off the steroids.

 

[nitty]

Yes, Clash, that is what I was trying to find out. How does azathioprine help by suppressing the immune system if the theory is that the immune system is already weak (as opposed to the theory of an over-reactive immune system)?

 

[Sarah50]

I don't have the knowledge or understanding about Crohn's, the medications, diets, etc. like many of you do. I'm newly diagnosed Nov 2012.

Dave, what I don't understand about your hypothesis - in terms that I understand, is once I was put on medication (Asacol) and a "low residue diet" which is a lot of carbs (and for some reason, I am eating more sugar than I ever have - candy, daily) you would think my Crohn's would flare up, right? (All of my symptoms disappeared about 6 weeks after being on the medication and diet.)

Because you stated, from what you researched,

"There is significant evidence that carbs are somehow linked to Crohn's. The most recent study showed that reducing carbs improved Crohn's, and this is supported by other studies." And:

"Sugars and starches are linked to Crohn’s."

"Sugar/starch reduction can improve Crohn’s"

Why did I go into remission when I went on a low res (high carb) diet, plus eating sugar (candy and cookies or ice cream) almost every day?? I know the Asacol is reducing inflammation, so maybe that's why I'm not having problems??? BUT... when I eat food that is not on the diet, like fruit (with skin) in yogurt or salads, my symptoms come back???

Maybe I don't understand enough and my example does not apply to your hypothesis, but if it does, do you have any feeling about it? Or maybe I'm jumping the gun here.

Again, I really appreciate your time and effort into figuring out what causes Crohn's. It's great info and certainly up for discussion. I hope that everyone here can state their opinions without getting personal / put downs - so not necessary. ALL opinions should be allowed here as long as everyone doesn't attack anyone for their opinions.

 

[David]

Debate is great. I ask that it be done in a friendly manner, however. Dave has spent a lot of work sharing his theory and while we may agree or disagree, what he does deserve is to feel welcome and respected and of course vice versa.

Stick to the facts.

Thank you!

 

[flowergirl]

While it's a good theory for some, I don't think you can make a blanket statement that all crohns people have weak immune systems from sugar acid. Both my dad and I have crohns, and we are (other than crohns) the healthiest people I know. Never get sick and have never had dental problems. Even on remicade I get sick less than my husband and son. And my body actually has horrible reactions to antibiotics. That's what started the crohns for me.

 

[rollinstone]

Yes, Clash, that is what I was trying to find out. How does azathioprine help by suppressing the immune system if the theory is that the immune system is already weak (as opposed to the theory of an over-reactive immune system)?

From my understanding is that it suppresses the inflammatory response of the immune system. It doesn't make Crohn's an autoimmune disorder, although I can see why it allows doctors and people to define Crohn's as that. I personally think Crohn's is an umbrella name for a bunch of diff problems in the gut, definitely multiple causes.

 

[Spooky1]

Interesting stuff here! I have major dental issues and have had since crohns started. Just out of interest does too much lactic acid cause extreme muscle fatigue? not sure on this, but perhaps someone can answer for me.

thanks

 

[PollyH]

Speaking as a lay person, and not very scientifically knowledgable, please can you explain how, if CD is caused by a weakened immune system, how is it that drugs which suppress the immune system then improve my symptoms?

There are different parts of the immune system. It is like one part is yelling fire, fire, help, help, and the other part isn't strong enough to put out the fire. So, the first part just keeps yelling louder and louder and causing more inflammation. Your doctor then gives you something to control the inflammation. Your doctor often doesn't have a drug to give you that will put out the fire on a permanent basis. However, you can change your body chemistry such that it is able to put out most fires.

When there is yeast overgrowth, the humoral arm of the immune system tends to be over-active and the cellular arm of the immune system tends to be too weak to remove the yeast. When the humoral arm of the immune system is overactive, you often end up with allergies and inflammation. When the cellular immune system is underactive, the body has a hard time getting rid of yeast and certain other infections.

To get rid of yeast, you want to improve the strength of the cellular immune system. One way to do this is to bring up the energy of the cells. Anything you can do to improve the energy producing capacity of your cells should help. This means making sure the cells have vitamins, minerals, and amino acids in the correct balance; making sure the cells have fuel and enough thyroid to produce energy; and making sure there aren't too many heavy metals and toxins in the body that may throw a monkey wrench into the energy making machinery.

Unfortunately, yeast and bacteria create toxins that interfere with your vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fuel. They are smart. They don't want your cellular immune system to be too strong. Yeast go about this in some very devious ways. For one thing, they create Prostaglandin PGE2, which increases inflammation and increases the body's production of estrogen. Estrogen lowers thyroid and cellular immunity. Estrogen encourages the growth of yeast. Yeast even create estradiol, a strong estrogen.

Yeast also interfere with your body's absorption of coenzyme Q10. They take the coenzyme Q10 in your food, and turn it into a different form --- one that they can use, but not you. Coenzyme Q10 / ubiquinol is one of the things you need for cellular energy.

Yeast also create acetaldehyde. The acetaldehyde really does a number on your body. Have you ever felt like you couldn't think easily? That could be due to the yeast's acetaldehyde lowering your acetylcholine. With lowered acetylcholine, you have difficulty thinking, your vagus nerve isn't able to trigger proper digestive actions, your spleen isn't activated to produce anti-inflammatory substances, and you feel tired.

The acetaldehyde also interferes with the body's ability to turn vitamin B6 into its active form (pyridoxal-5-phosphate, or P5P). Acetaldehyde causes you to dump the amino acid taurine into your urine. The acetaldehyde interferes with your ability to create methyl-folate. You need the methyl-folate to turn your niacin into its active forms of NAD and NADH. These are needed for energy production and clear thinking. You also need the methyl-folate for clearing toxins out of your body. You need the methyl-folate to create your neurotransmitters, like serotonin and dopamine. The acetaldehyde interferes with the creation of your Tregs which are needed to help calm things down after an infection.

The acetaldehyde also lowers your cholesterol. You might say good, finally something good about the acetaldehyde that is produced by yeast. Nope. Not so fast. The cholesterol protects your body from the toxins generated in your gut. The cholesterol helps your body eliminate things like strep, staph and TB. Cholesterol is needed for your T cell formation. Cholesterol is also very important for your brain's functioning. If your total cholesterol drops below 160, you can get sick, depressed and not able to think well. Here is a video on why you want your cholesterol levels above 160 mg/dl. http://vimeo.com/12616011 If need be, you can purchase supplements of cholesterol to help bring it up. Vitamin C, fruit and coconut oil can be helpful in bringing cholesterol levels up. (Coconut oil will lower high cholesterol, but bring up cholesterol when it is too low.)

The acetaldehyde breaks down elastin. (It activates MMP-9) The acetaldehyde attaches to / forms adducts with your neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, making them unavailable for your use. The acetaldehyde gets rid of your asparagine, alpha ketoglutaric acid, glutamine and glutamate. The acetladehyde alters your ratio of NAD/NADH, which are forms of niacin.

To get rid of the yeast / fungus on a permanent basis, you need to get rid of the reason it started and correct all the imbalances and nutritional deficiencies it created.

I used to have yeast overgrowth in my intestines. Fortunately, I never got Crohn's like my cousin did. However, the yeast overgrowth has been the bane of my life. That is why I've studied it and tried so many different things to get rid of it. If it wouldn't be too forward, in another post, I will outline some ideas that may help keep fungus / yeast levels down in the body. Is that acceptable on this list? If not, I can just give you some links to look at.

 

[PollyH]

Just out of interest does too much lactic acid cause extreme muscle fatigue? thanks

Yes. Lactic acid will increase muscle fatigue. The lactic acid may be coming from the gut. It can also be manufactured locally if the cells are having trouble getting enough oxygen and creating energy.

Do you have fibromyalgia? People with fibromyalgia have muscle pain, joint pain, and trouble sleeping. There are tender trigger points near areas where blood flow may be restricted. There is fibrin formation that may be interfering with circulation. According to the work of Dr. Pimentel, his fibromyalgia patients had very bad cases of Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). The small intestine is not supposed to have a lot of bacteria in it. However, if there is an overgrowth of bacteria there, the bacteria get to your food before you do. They turn your carbohydrates into D-lactic acid.

With fibromyalgia, a person is exposed to excessive serotonin in its free state. This increases fibrin formation. In general, to control the way serotonin is used, and to reduce fibrin formation, Raymond Peat suggests the following: magnesium, niacinamide, taurine, glycine, saturated fats, thyroid hormone, antihistamines, antioxidants and other anti-inflammatory agents to help reduce or reverse fibrogenic processes.

I would like to add, that you will need methyl-folate to use your niacinamide. The methyl-folate may be low due to mercury, acetaldehyde from yeast, or a genetic polymorphism of the MTHFr gene. There is a lot of information about MTHFr and the various forms of folate at mthfr.net

I'm presently a moderator at a yahoo group called SIBOnation. If you have fibromyalgia, join us and ask a few questions.

 

[EthanClark]

Dave-Thank you for the post and the upcoming articles. I look forward to reading them as I will always be open to new ideas until a cure is found.

 

[Beach]

I used to have yeast overgrowth in my intestines. Fortunately, I never got Crohn's like my cousin did. However, the yeast overgrowth has been the bane of my life. That is why I've studied it and tried so many different things to get rid of it. If it wouldn't be too forward, in another post, I will outline some ideas that may help keep fungus / yeast levels down in the body. Is that acceptable on this list? If not, I can just give you some links to look at.

Nice post, and I'd find it interesting to learn further about the nutrient robbing properties yeast can bring about, along with ways to deal with it. Along similar lines, something I've taken an interest in of late is learning about anti-nutrients found in different foods, such as wheat, beans, nightshades, etc.

 

[D Bergy]

An oversimplified explanation is that a weakened immune system fights the pathogen, which causes inflammation. In a normal, strong immune system the pathogen is eliminated and the inflammation goes away also. The weakened immune system just keeps on fighting the pathogens, but never eliminates them. Then you have chronic inflammation.

You can further weaken the immune system so it will not fight the pathogen and if you get it right enough, you will quell the inflammation with it.

Or, you can strengthen the immune system which allows for the reduction of the pathogens and a reduction of the inflammation.

It is an oversimplification, but the principle is close enough.

Dan

 

[PollyH]

I I also have a disease of the bladder called interstitial cystits in which "they" say is autoimmune. But oddly enough, I only get relief while on certain antibiotics! I have had to be on low dose antibitoics for over 4 years now as that is the ONLY thing that brings me relief.

I know someone who got rid of her interstitial cystitis by clearing up her gut. I think it is because certain bacteria create toxins that affect the tight junctions (cause leaky gut). Those toxins show up in the urine. I assume they do the same thing to the bladder. However, most people with IC say it is due to high oxylates in their urine. You can get your urine tested for oxlylates at the Great Plains Laboratory. The oxalates are created by certain bacteria and yeast. It is a fairly common problem in autism. There is a low oxalate diet that some of the kids with autism must follow. If you join one of their lists, you can find out what they do about it. For instance, right now, the best probiotic to use is VSL#3 for this condition. Later, they are hoping for a better one. 20 minutes before a meal, you take some calcium and magnesium taurate or citrate. The minerals will combine with the oxylates in your food and those created by the bacteria / yeast.

Here is a video by Dr. Kurt Woeller on the subject of oxalates and what to do about them. It is available for free for the next few days.

Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia Autism and the Oxalate Connection (1 hr 10
min)
http://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/home/eng/recorded_webinars.asp

It will be removed shortly from this webpage. When that happens, it will still be available, but you need to pay for it at www.AutismSeminarsonDemand.com

 

[PollyH]

Nice post, and I'd find it interesting to learn further about the nutrient robbing properties yeast can bring about, along with ways to deal with it. Along similar lines, something I've taken an interest in of late is learning about anti-nutrients found in different foods, such as wheat, beans, nightshades, etc.

This is my current understanding of things that will help eliminate yeast overgrowth. This isn’t a perfect list, especially since I’m not that familiar with Crohn’s and colitis. The list doesn’t represent medical advice. Use the list with caution and with the advice of your physician.

This list of remedies is based mainly on replacing the nutrients that yeast deplete, and removing the factors that contribute to yeast overgrowth. However, you may not tolerate everything on this list. There are genetics to consider and past toxin exposures. So, this list needs to be used with some testing and/or experimentation in mind. Slowly introduce a supplement that seems to be what you need. Then if you feel worse, stop and try something different on the list. Later, you may be able to tolerate the original supplement. Everything needs balance.

I believe a general strategy for controlling yeast should address the following:

1. Remove much of the fuel for yeast growth, acetaldehyde production, and biofilm production.
2. Repair the nutritional damage caused by the yeast’s acetaldehyde.
3. Soak up the acetaldehyde before it does additional damage.
4. Remove heavy metals and toxins that encourage yeast growth.
5. Reduce the size of yeast colonies with the use of antifungals and things to degrade their biofilms.
6. Alter the environment in the intestines to discourage yeast colonization.
7. Remove viruses, bacteria and parasites that interfere with the body’s ability to attack and control the yeast.
8. Support thyroid, liver and kidney function to help eliminate toxins.
9. Support the cellular immune system.

LIMIT SUGAR AND CARBOHYDRATES

These allow the yeast to flourish and to create their acetaldehyde. Don’t eliminate sugars and carbohydrates completely though. Your body needs them. In particular, it would be very hard on the kidneys if you eliminated sugar and carbohydrates altogether. Besides, cutting out all sugar and carbohydrates would not kill the yeast. Yeast can live on fat and protein. If your upper intestine is clear, then you may be able to tolerate more sugars than someone else. Thyroid and natural progesterone will help your intestines absorb the sugars, leaving less for the bacteria and yeast.

RESTRICT INTAKE OF POLYUNSATURATED OILS

These increase yeast growth in low oxygen environments like the intestines. Polyunsaturated oils also encourage the formation of yeast biofilms. However, a small amount of fish oil and / or primrose oil may be of some help even though they are polyunsaturated. Use mainly saturated and monosaturated oils. Use mainly olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil and organic butter. (Animals store pesticides in their fat. That is why you want organic butter.) Get organic grass fed butter if possible, because the butter from grass fed animals will contain the anti-inflammatory vitamin K2.

FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS (A, D, E AND K2)

These work best when kept in balance. These are all anti-inflammatory and they help to improve the gut flora. In particular, vitamin K2 lowers PGE2. Yeast create PGE2. You don’t want excess PGE2 because it increases the body’s production of estrogen and encourages yeast growth. (If you don’t tolerate vitamin A, you might want to change brands and/ or try some zinc first.)

REDUCE ESTROGEN EXPOSURE

Birth control pills are notorious for causing yeast overgrowth. So, if possible, get rid of them. However, I realize that with Crohn’s sometimes the birth control pills are helpful. I don’t fully understand that.

Many women who are ill have an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone. During the last two weeks of a woman’s cycle, one will often find an excess of estrogen relative to progesterone. This encourages yeast growth. (Dr. John Lee has several books about this. There is also a good book by Raymond Peat, PhD about this.)

There was an experiment done with mice. They removed the ovaries, then they treated one group with estrogen and the other group with natural progesterone. Those treated with estrogen got yeast infections. Those treated with progesterone did not. So, to balance a woman’s hormones, you might think it safe to give some natural progesterone during the last two weeks of her cycle. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that when this is first tried, there may be an initial flare of yeast symptoms. I’m speculating that this many have to do with the progesterone pushing stored estrogen out of cells. (When progesterone goes in, estrogen comes out mainly in the sulfated form.)

You need the sulfates for the estrogen to leave the cells and get transported to the liver for disposal. If you are low on sulfates, you might have some trouble with adding in the natural progesterone.

I believe natural progesterone can be helpful if there is an estrogen / progesterone imbalance. However, I would start with correcting a thyroid problem first, assuming it exists. Correcting the thyroid should help correct the estrogen / progesterone ratio. If the adrenals are weak, you may need to add the progesterone, since natural progesterone is very good support for the adrenals.

Stop using the artificial progesterone shot for birth control. This shot contains a form of progesterone that is foreign to the body. It ends up reducing your indigenous levels of natural progesterone. This creates an imbalance between natural progesterone and estrogen in the body. (Natural progesterone is the kind of progesterone that the body produces. It is different than the kind of progesterone found in the birth control shot and in most pharmaceuticals.)

Pesticides and plastics are also estrogen-like. Remove as much of them as possible from the diet. Stop using styrofoam cups for your hot drinks. They are a source of estrogen like compounds. Be careful with herbs that contain phytoestrogens. Large amounts of phytoestrogens are just as bad as estrogen.

CALCIUM-D-GLUCARATE

If you also have Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), consider using calcium-d-glucarate to counteract the bacteria’s effect on your body’s elimination system. Calcium-d-glucarate helps the body eliminate excess estrogen by blocking an enzyme that the SIBO bacteria create. Gradually work up the dose of calcium-d-glucarate to 3 pills, three times a day, with your meals. If you wish to stop the calcium-d-glucarate, do so gradually to avoid a spike in estrogen.

THYROID

This helps keep estrogen levels under control. It also improves the immune system and helps the body get rid of the yeast. It is often low when one has yeast overgrowth. (For one reason, the yeast’s production of acetaldehyde interferes with the g proteins signaling of the thyroid gland.) Read about thyroid first and then seek an alternative doctor for a trial of natural thyroid. (Broda Barnes, MD has a good introductory book called Hypothyroidism: the Unsuspected Illness.)

NIACINAMIDE

This disrupts the growth of yeast and their creation of biofilms. Byron Richards, ND, has found that 250 mg to 1000 mg is helpful for his yeast patients. The niacinamide may also help control anxiety.

METHYL-FOLATE

The creation of methyl-folate is hampered by the yeast toxin acetaldehyde. You need methyl-folate to provide the methyl groups to process the niacinamide into its active NAD and NADH forms. Methyl-folate is also important for blood flow in the brain and peripheral circulation. Methyl-folate is the only form of folate that crosses the blood brain barrier. There it is needed to create your neurotransmitters.

INOSITOL AND CHOLINE

These don’t directly help get rid of the yeast. Instead, they help balance the effects of niacinamide on the body. Choline may be low if the body hasn’t had enough methyl-folate for a while. The body will use your choline to provide methyl groups if it doesn’t have the methyl-folate. Inositol tends to increase movement in the intestines. Niacinamide tends to slow things down. You need a proper balance of these two vitamins for proper motor control.

PANTETHINE AND MOLYBDENUM

These help the body dispose of acetaldehyde. The pantethine also helps your body create taurine and acetylcholine. The acetylcholine is important for cognition, for stomach acid production, and for the functioning of the vagus nerve. Pantethine also helps create coenzyme A. Coenzyme A is important for energy production and for the detoxification of acetaldehyde. Byron Richards, ND, has found that pantethine is particularly helpful in eliminating yeast overgrowth. The pantethine is also helpful in increasing the growth of Bifido bacteria. Here is an important quote from a excellent article on using pantethine and molybdenum to remove acetaldehyde.

“Dr. Cooter and Dr. Schmtt suggest 300 micrograms of Molybdenum in three divided doses per day, and further suggests staying on it for at least 4 months" http://www.candidapage.com/aldehyde.shtml

THEANINE

This is found in tea, but you can also get pills of it. Theanine accelerates the liver’s removal of acetaldehyde. It also protects the liver by reducing the liver’s loss of glutathione. Theanine has a calming / anti-anxiety effect for many who try this. http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/jan2006_report_theanine_01.htm

MSM SULFUR

Many people have found this helpful. This kills yeast and certain parasites. MSM will also help your body replace the sulfur that the yeast toxin acetaldehyde has removed. Start slow and gradually work up to more. Be consistent. MSM crystals are supposedly best.

MSM should be balanced with other minerals, including zinc, copper, molybdenum, selenium and calcium. (Eg, if you take a lot of sulfur, then you may need more copper, molybdenum, selenium and calcium.) However, if you are low on sulfur, your body will substitute selenium for some of the usual purposes of sulfur. Hence low sulfur may mean you are also low on selenium.

MSM isn’t always tolerated. Sometimes this occurs if one is mercury poisoned. If this happens, try sulfates instead. (Epsom salt baths are a source of sulfates. Before embarking on these baths, test your bathtub to make sure your tub glaze does not have lead in it.) If you don’t tolerate MSM, you might want to try some molybdenum first. It might help you tolerate the MSM.

PANCREATIC and DIGESTIVE ENZYMES

This helps to break up yeast biofilms, and it helps you to digest your food. Many people find this helpful. Be careful with the “plant enzymes” or the enzymes that are not from dried pancreas. These enzymes are made using a mold. You may be allergic. Be especially careful if you have asthma.

COPPER / ZINC RATIO

If you don’t know your zinc / copper ratio, it would probably be best to take both these minerals along with a little manganese. The usual supplementation ratio is one part copper to between seven and fourteen parts zinc. The Great Plains Laboratory has a test for the ratio of zinc to copper, and it also measures the amount of bound and unbound copper.

ZINC

Zinc is often low. One reason is that the aldehydes from yeast will release zinc from protein sites. Estrogen also wastes zinc. You need the zinc for healthy intestines, including the ability to transport the vitamin A from the liver. However, be careful with the amount of zinc you use. If your zinc goes too high, you are more likely to have trouble with yeast growth. Too much zinc can also be a problem because it may lower copper, iron, manganese and molybdenum levels too far. A convenient, albeit not perfect, way to monitor zinc is with Zinc Tally by Metagenics. To increase your zinc levels, consider using the Metagentics Zinc Drink, as this liquid form is easier for your body to absorb.

COPPER

Copper is often high. If copper is high, then you can use vitamin C, zinc, sulfur, B6 and/or molybdenum to bring copper levels down. Cysteine will also lower copper, but it is important not to use cysteine for this purpose, at least not at first. Cysteine supplementation may make you sick if copper levels are quite high. Cysteine sometimes will increase yeast growth. Like with other minerals, balance is key. Not too much copper and not too little. You need copper for many purposes in the body. If copper is low, a good way to bring it up, in my opinion, is with copper bound to sebacate. For me personally, copper measured low, but I got worse when I took plain copper. Yet, copper sebacate made me healthier. This form is easier for your cells to use. Liver is a good source of copper and the B vitamins your body needs to use the copper.

CAREFUL WITH CYSTEINE

Cysteine attaches to acetaldehyde. It is very protective for this reason. However, some people have noticed that a supplement of cysteine increases yeast growth in them. Cysteine may not be tolerated if you are high in copper.

VITAMIN C

Most of the time, high dose vitamin C can be helpful when you have yeast overgrowth. Vitamin C counters the oxidative stress caused by the yeast’s acetaldehyde. Vitamin C also helps lower histamine, which may be high due to the allergies associated with yeast overgrowth.

However, caution is warranted with high dose vitamin C if you also have high oxalates along with high free copper. It may make the oxalate problem worse. A moderate amount of vitamin C would be fine in this situation though.

MAGNESIUM

This is very important for many functions in the body. It may be low because of the lack of taurine and because magnesium is poorly absorbed when the gut is inflamed. (Taurine helps you retain magnesium. Taurine is lost due to the yeast.)

LOW OXYLATE DIET

This diet may be necessarily if your urinary oxalate level is high. Oxalates lower your biotin and interfere with your coenzyme A. Coenzyme A is already quite low due to the yeast’s acetaldehyde. (Coenzyme A is not related to vitamin A. It is a substance needed for energy production and to create acetylcholine.) If you have high oxylates, join one of the discussion lists that talk about this problem. One of the things you can do is take your magnesium and calcium in the form of citrate or taurate. Using these minerals 20 minutes before a meal will help bind / mop up oxylates.

CHOLESTEROL

Get enough cholesterol in your diet. Cholesterol protects the body from bacterial toxins generated in the gut. It helps kill staph, strep and tuberculosis. It helps create T cells. It is needed for the formation of bile and for the creation of all your hormones. The body doesn’t function well if the cholesterol blood levels drop below 160 mg/dl. When rats are injected with the yeast toxin acetaldehyde, their cholesterol levels drop.

ELIMINATE H. PYLORI

The H. pylori keeps you from creating stomach acid. The stomach acid helps you to get rid of yeast. Unfortunately, you can’t just add in a stomach acid supplement when you have H. pylori, because that may make the infection worse. (You need to work on the H. pylori and the yeast at the same time, since H. pylori can hide within yeast.)

Often the tests for H. pylori don't find it, even though it is present. So, doctors sometimes resort to checking for H. pylori markers. For instance, H. pylori gets rid of your manganese, lithium, copper, iron, B12, carnitine, phospholipids and arginine. If some of these are low, your doctor's suspicions might be raised. (Some of these markers might still look normal for various reasons.) There is also possible high readings of ammonia, seberic or taurine. Cadmium and bismuth readings may be high, even without chelation.

H. pylori can hide within yeast cells. So, part of your strategy for eliminating H. pylori should include reducing the yeast population. Lactoferrin is useful here because it helps break up yeast biofilms and it stops the growth of H. pylori. Adding in lactoferrin to your usual triple antibiotic treatment improves the outcome considerably. When you take lactoferrin along with the triple antibiotics, you have a 92% cure rate compared to a 71% cure rate without it.

Two antifungal drugs, Diflucan and Nizoral are also particularly useful. Diflucan and Nizoral kill many types of yeast and they also kill H. pylori. (We often think of antifungals as only killing yeast and fungus, but they also have some antibacterial properties.)

Taking some bicarbonates along with your therapy also helps with the eradication of the H. pylori. The bicarbonates disorient the H. pylori and make them more vulnerable.

Glycine is inexpensive, and might be of use here too.

"When combined with amoxicillin, a common generic antibiotic, glycine reduced by a factor of 10 the amount of amoxicillin needed to kill the troublesome bacteria."

http://www.lifeextensionvitamins.com/glpoforinand.html

There is a whole host of things you can use to get rid of H. pylori without resorting to prescription antibiotics. In this long video, Dr. Amy Yasko explains the nature of H. pylori infection and how to get rid of it.

http://www.dramyyasko.com/resources/webisodes/h-pylori-another-piece-to-the-puzzle/

Her protocol for getting rid of H. pylori can become quite involved. However, from the lecture, I gather that the basic components are the following:

1. Baking soda or Bicarbonates with each meal.

2. Peptimycin (contains mastic gum from the pistachio tree)

3. HELX RNA from www.holisticheal.com/microbial-helx.html

4. Air Power (Guafenesin, an over-the-counter cough medication)

5. Range of specific enzymes

6. Range of very specific normal flora probiotics

If you want to know more about this, it is probably best to join the discussion group for Dr. Amy Yasko’s protocols. I get the impression that there can be a lot more to this.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD

Avoid food that has been genetically modified. Doctors and scientists have found that these foods increase gut inflammation and are more likely to cause allergies. The Roundup pesticide, which is used on most of these GMO foods, is also particularly hard on the gut. Doctors who tell their patients to remove these GMO foods are getting faster improvements in their patients with gut problems. Later, the patients are able to reintroduce these foods in their natural non-GMO form without relapsing.

Currently, in the United States, food that has been genetically modified is not labeled as such. However, there is a way to avoid using it. Almost all the corn and soy grown in the USA is genetically modified. So, don’t eat corn or soy unless it is labeled organic. (Organic products are not genetically modified.) Sugar beets, crook neck squash, zucchini, and papaya might also be genetically modified unless they are labeled organic. Canola and cotton seed oils are often from genetically modified plants. Don’t eat them.

Here is a link to a video talking about how the Roundup pesticide and genetically modified foods can cause SIBO. Roundup and GM food can cause an increase in allergies, leaky gut, Clostridia and E. coli overgrowth, and gluten intolerance. Also Roundup and GM foods can cause a decrease in pancreatic enzymes, a decrease in the ability to detoxify, and a decrease in fat soluble vitamins. (Roundup interferes with CCK, which then causes less bile release or gallbladder stasis. Without the release of bile, the liver can’t get rid of toxins and the intestines can absorb fat soluble vitamins.)

The Roundup pesticide kills off bacteria in the gut, but leaves Clostridia and E. coli alone. Thus, when you are exposed to this pesticide, Clostridia and E. coli will have less competition; and you are more likely to end up with an overgrowth of Clostridia or E. coli bacteria. This could make you quite ill. They have already seen an increased problem with Clostridia overgrowth in animals fed Roundup ready plants. I wonder if that is why our hospitals are dealing with an increased problem with Clostridia.

http://vimeo.com/51259453

STOMACH ACID

This will help eliminate yeast. However, don’t supplement with this if you have H. pylori.

BENFOTIAMINE

This is a form of vitamin B1. It will help repair the nervous system. It is also anti-inflammatory, and it helps eliminate heavy metals. The yeast’s acetaldehyde has depleted vitamin B1. (Mercury will deplete this vitamin as well.) If you are low on vitamin B1, you may want to start replacing it slowly to allow the body a chance to get used to having it again.

TAURINE

This has been depleted by yeast. Start slow if you try this. It will release some toxins from storage. It has many benefits, including reducing allergic reactions and migraines. However, if you have H. pylori, taurine might be high. If you have certain genetics, taurine might be high. If you don’t tolerate taurine, start with some molybdenum to help your body convert possibly high taurine into sulfates.

UBIQUINOL OR COENZYME Q10

The absorption of this has been lowered by the presence of yeast. It will help you bring your cellular energy levels back up. Cellular energy is important for your cell mediated immune system. That is the arm of the immune system that fights yeast. I believe ubiquinol is usually a better supplement than coenzyme Q10.

ALPHA KETOGLUTARATE AND MALATE

These may be low. They are needed to bring your cellular energy back up. The alpha ketoglutarate doesn’t keep well, so don’t purchase more than you need for immediate use.

GELATIN

This will help repair the gut lining. However, not everyone can tolerate it.

COENZYME B6 (PYRIDOXAL-5-PHOSPHATE

This is low because of the yeast. It is important for many functions in the body, including energy production. It is delicate, so take it at a separate time from your other supplements.

ANTI-VIRALS

Some viruses alter your prostaglandin profile in such a way that encourages yeast growth. Therefore an anti-viral program may help you eliminate the yeast.

SELENIUM

Selenium will be low if you have mercury or certain viruses. The form of selenium called selenocysteine may be particularly low because the yeast toxin acetaldehyde lowers P5P. P5P is required for the enzymes that convert selenium into selenocysteine. Bringing your selenium levels back up will help your body convert thyroid into its active form. Selenium will also help eliminate certain viruses.

ELIMINATE HEAVY METALS

Mercury is notorious for causing yeast overgrowth. It interferes with the enzyme that removes the yeast’s acetaldehyde. Clean the mercury and other heavy metals out of the body.

SUPPORT LIVER AND KIDNEYS

These organs help you eliminate toxins from your body. Toxins interfere with your ability to eliminate yeast. Saunas, homeopathics and mild exercise are some of the ways to eliminate the toxins.

BREAK UP YEAST BIOFILMS

These are shelters for infections / pathogens. More than one infection can coexist in a biofilm. Think of a biofilm as sticky substances secreted by the pathogens in which they hide. This is a shelter that your body can't easily attack. The shelter uses minerals for its structural stability and sticky stuff to hold it together. Sort of like building a house out of bricks and mortar. When the biofilm is broken up, sometimes there is a significant release of heavy metals that had been trapped in the biofilm. Sometimes that will trigger growth of yeast or other pathogens. Sometimes the person will experience a reaction to the pathogens that can now be recognized by the immune system. When using a biofilm removal protocol, one must be prepared for new symptoms and new pathogens that need to be treated.

If antibiotics and antifungals, and chelation doesn’t seem to be doing their job, then you need to go to the next step --- that is the removal of biofilms. This will make the antifungals, anti-virals, and antibiotics work better. Since biofilms can be harboring toxic metals, when you break these biofilms up, sometimes there will be a dramatic release of toxic metals that weren’t reached with simple chelation approaches.

There are several different biofilm removal protocols. They consist of enzymes and things to pull out minerals from the biofilms (EDTA or lactoferrin), followed by things to kill the organisms hiding in the biofilms, followed by things to absorb the toxins, metals and debri released. (A separation of anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours is used between each supplement.) However, before going on this full biofilm removal protocol, you need to test each product to see if it is tolerated. The first one to check is your tolerance to the absorptive materials. That way, if you have a bad reaction to one of the other products, you will have something safe to help stop the reaction.

Here is a very good presentation on biofilms by Anju Usman, MD. www.scribd.com/doc/18583142/Gut-Rec...-Treating-Chronic-Gastrointestinal-Infections

Dr. Anju Usman suggests:

Products works best on an empty stomach

Start one supplement at a time, go slow

Do not give Enzymes on an empty stomach to patients with severe GI issues

Do not give lactoferrin to patients with dairy allergy

Avoid giving Iron, Calcium or Magnesium at same time

Here is a biofilm removal protocol that is loosely based on Dr. Kurt Woeller’s approach:

1. Take enzyme products like nattokinase, lubrokinase, Interfase, Biofilm Defense, bromelain and/or chitosan. Sometimes add in lactoferrin and / or Na-EDTA (not Ca-EDTA).

2. Thirty minutes later, take your anti-microbials. (Rotate the non-prescriptive anti-microbials every 5 days.)

3. One or two hours later, take absorptive products to mop up the toxins released. (At first, I’d suggest that you start with less time in-between, for a more gentle protocol.) Absorptive material may include charcoal, Pectasol (modified citrus pectin),Brown Algae, Destroxin zeolite, TruFiber (New Beginnings product), and / or apple pectin.

The amount of these products to take will depend on the individual. Always start with a little and work up to more. You don’t want to make yourself sick. Here is a post by someone who tried too much at first. However, with time, she was able to tolerate a full dose of the products. www.cpnhelp.org/interphaseplus_and_biofil

Here is another biofilm removal protocol that mentions the use of homeopathics. This one is by Dr. Ettinger.

www.advancedhealing.com/blog/2009/09/25/dr-ettingers-biofilm-protocol-for-lyme-and-gut-pathogens

The interfase product is a mixture of enzymes. The biofilm Reduction Activity of InterFase ® has been documented invitro for these organisms:

Escherichia coli

Staphylococcus aureus MRSA

Helicobacter pylori

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Klebsiella pneumoniae

Streptococcus pyogenes

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Candida paratropicalis

Staphylococcus aureus

FATS AND BIOFILM

Polyunsaturated fats provide the raw material for biofilm formation. Here is an excerpt from one of Byron Richard’s articles. In this article Byron is refuting someone’s assertion that stearic acid ( a saturated fatty acid) will increase biofilm formation. Saturated fats do not contribute to the biofilm.

http://www.wellnessresources.com/he...nesium_stearate/?source=Email&camp=news040909

“Biofilms are germ gangs. They assemble based on a quorum-sensing signal, like a bell tolling in the field telling farmers to come to town and pick up weapons and go to war. Biofilms in your digestive tract, such as Candida albicans biofilms or other bacterial biofilms are extremely problematic to human health.

These biofilm gangs need a fuel source to keep reproducing and growing. That fuel source is never a saturated fat because there is no point of biochemistry interaction in a saturated fat.

For example, a Candida albicans biofilm fuels its reproduction based on your intake of highly polyunsaturated fatty acids. This means that if you eat a bag of potato chips, corn chips, or French fries and you have a Candida biofilm, you just poured gas on the fire. Candida inserts oxygen molecules into the unsaturated bonds of the fatty acids (the more unsaturated bonds the better from Candida’s point of view) forming a highly toxic inflammatory signal called an oxylipin. Oxylipins are reproductive growth factors for the biofilm. It is technically impossible to insert an oxygen molecule into a saturated fat, which is why it is not possible for stearic acid to promote biofilm growth.”

PROBIOTICS

Use probiotics after you have eliminated protozoa. Some protozoa feed on probiotics. Add in some colostrum at the same time.

ANTI-FUNGALS

Use anti-fungal herbs and prescriptions. If you first get a test to see which yeast is present, you can do a better job of choosing an effective anti-fungal. Often the lab will tell you which anti-fungal is most effective against your type of yeast. If you don’t have lab results, try one anti-fungal, and if it doesn’t help, try another.

CURCUMIN

This may be particularly helpful in that it is anti-inflammatory, kills yeast, and eliminates certain parasites. However, curcumin might reduce iron levels. You need enough iron, but not too much. If you are low on iron, lactoferrin is a good way to bring up iron levels without letting bacteria and pathogens get to the iron first. The lactoferrin also helps get rid of biofilms.

BERBERINE

This is anti-fungal and it lowers blood sugar. If one is diabetic, this antifungal is a decent consideration. Be careful though. It may lower blood sugar too much.

IODINE

This has antifungal properties. However, it is very important to use the correct amount. Not too much and not too little. Also a steady small dose is easier on the body than occasional large doses. Unfortunately, the yeast toxin acetaldehyde reacts with iodine making the iodine unavailable for the enzymes in the body. The most accurate measurement of iodine is via urine.

COCONUT OIL, PALM OIL, LAURACIDIN

These kill yeast and some viruses. Start slowly. Don’t use more than a teaspoon per day to start. If you add the warmed oil to a grated carrot salad, the roughage will help bring the oil into the latter part of the intestines.

WONDRO

This is an old remedy that removes acetaldehyde and breaks up yeast biofilms. Wondro is something that can be made at home, so long as it is done in small batches. It has many strikingly good testimonials to its credit. However, I don’t have any personal experience with this. Here is a link to an old testimonial booklet and another link to a modern ebook about why Wondro works.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/76584628/Wondro-Historical-Testimonials-Pamphlet

http://www.scribd.com/doc/101099776/Wondro-Inside-Out

 

[Beach]

PollyH - Greatly appreciated, and thanks for taking the time give your thoughts on this! I've printed the information out. It will give me new future ideas to experiment with.

 

[Spooky1]

Polly, i think congratulations might be in order! is that the longest post on Crohns forum? lol, it will take me a while to assimilate that, think i shall print it out and go through it slowly. But thanks a great deal for bothering to share information with us that haven't come across such research.

 

[CeeCeeGo]

WOW Polly - thanks for all that!
A lot of bedtime reading this week.

 

[PollyH]

I'm going to give you some more late night reading material. I hope it is helpful.

You might want to pay special attention to the methyl-folate supplement. Not only does the yeast toxin interfere with its formation, but a genetic problem with creating it seems to be prevalent in Crohn's and colitis.

Start slow with adding in methyl-folate. If you don't feel right with it, try taking some niacinamide. You need to balance your methyl-folate with niacinamide. There is also a need to balance your methyl-folate with methyl-B12.

"A total of 17.5% of ulcerative colitis and 16.8% of Crohn's disease patients were homozygous for the C677T variant compared with 7.3% of controls."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1727640/

This means that both your mom and dad may have given you a genetic weakness in creating methyl-folate. In the conclusion of that abstract, the author suggested that people with Crohn's and colitis may need more folic acid and B12. However, you need to be careful with which forms of these you use. Folic acid is not the same thing as folate or methyl-folate. In fact if you inherit the same C677T weakness from both your parents, you should probably try to avoid sources of folic acid. Folic acid is the form of the vitamin they put in bread and enriched flour products. It is also the form found in most vitamin supplements. Folic acid can build up in the blood and interfere with the use of your methyl-folate. When you hear about a study saying folic acid supplementation was associated with colon cancer, that may very well be true, because it was folic acid, not folate. Excess "folic acid" is toxic and cancer causing. (This is talked about at the MTHFR.net website.)

You may need some methyl-B12 to balance your methyl-folate. Each person will be different in the proportions they need to supplement. The lack of B12 may be related to excess bacteria in the small intestine (SIBO). It is hard to say which vitamin you need the most. Here is something I wrote for a SIBO group about methyl-folate and methyl-B12.

B12 AND FOLATE BALANCE

With SIBO, folic acid /folate levels are sometimes high. We don’t know if it is caused by the bacteria creating folates or something else. One potential reason is that you need B12 to use the folates, and B12 is often low with SIBO. Another potential problem is the presence of antibodies to folate receptors. This may cause high levels of folates in the blood, but low levels in the cells.

Methyl-folate should be kept in balance with methyl-B12. The two work together. An excess of one may suppress the other. With SIBO, usually it is the B12 that is low, and the folic acid / folate that is high. Therefore, perhaps start your experimentation with the methyl-B12 or the hydroxy-B12. (The hydroxyl-B12 converts into methyl-B12 and adenosyl-B12 in the body.) There is another reason to start with the B12. According to Wikipedia,

“Patients with megaloblastic anemia need to be tested for vitamin B12 deficiency before folate treatment, because if the patient has vitamin B12 deficiency, folate supplementation can remove the anemia, but can also worsen neurologic problems.”

However, there is always the possibility that you may need more folate. Antibodies to milk casein are known to interfere with the use of folates. Acetaldehyde from yeast overgrowth will interfere with the absorption of folate and its conversion to methyl-folate. (The acetylaldehyde lowers Coenzyme A, which is needed for the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of formyl-folate into methyl-folate.) Heavy metals, especially arsenic, will interfere with the folates. Certain drugs will interfere with the absorption or metabolism of folate. Some of these are Metformin / Glucophage, Warfarin/Coumadin, Methyltrexate, Triamterene, sulfasalazine, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, anti-seizure drugs, retinoid acne pills and birth control pills Dialysis will remove folates. Alcohol consumption will lower methyl-folate.

TYPES OF FOLIC ACID / FOLATE / VITAMIN B9

Vitamin B9 is usually referred to as folic acid, even though folic acid is just the synthetic form of this vitamin. If one were to be more exact, the term folic acid would only be used to refer to the fully oxidized synthetic compound known as pteroylmonoglutamic acid. This is the form of vitamin B9 found in most vitamin supplements and in fortified flour.

The body will try to convert the synthetic folic acid into dihydrofolate and then into 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate and then into 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate. Unfortunately, up to 60 percent of the people in the USA have at least some genetic trouble converting folic acid into these various folates. This conversion process can also be thwarted by heavy metals, alcohol, solvents, chemicals, toxins, certain antibiotics or drugs, and the acetaldehyde produced by yeast. Because of these conversion problems, other forms of vitamin B9 have now become available on the market.

If the body is having trouble converting folic acid into a more useable form, then ingesting folic acid may result in a build-up of folic acid in the blood. Some people are very sensitive to this build-up of folic acid and feel better when they avoid all food and supplements that have been fortified with the synthetic folic acid. One possible reason for their sensitivity is that a build-up of folic acid in the blood can actually interfere with methyl-folate (5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate) crossing the blood brain barrier. Methyl-folate is the only form of vitamin B9 that crosses the blood-brain barrier. There it is needed to help create your brain’s neurotransmitters, like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. When the brain doesn’t get enough methyl-folate, one may suffer from depression, migraines, foggy thinking, irritability and many other brain symptoms.

According to Wikipedia,

“Common symptoms of folate deficiency include diarrhea, macrocytic anemia with weakness or shortness of breath, nerve damage with weakness and limb numbness (peripheral neuropathy)[citation needed], pregnancy complications, mental confusion, forgetfulness or other cognitive declines, mental depression, sore or swollen tongue, peptic or mouth ulcers, headaches, heart palpitations, irritability, and behavioral disorders. Low levels of folate can also lead to homocysteine accumulation.[7] DNA synthesis and repair are impaired and this could lead to cancer development.”

Dr. Ben Lynch has a surprisingly long list of things that could be caused by the lack of methyl-folate. This is his list as of December 6, 2012

Autism
Addictions: smoking, drugs, alcohol
Down's syndrome
Miscarriages
Pulmonary embolisms
Depression in Post-Menopausal Women
Schizophrenia
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chemical Sensitivity
Parkinson's
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Pre-eclampsia
Stroke
Spina bifida
Esophageal Squamous cell carcinoma
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Vascular Dementia
Bipolar disorder
Colorectal Adenoma
Idiopathic male infertility
Blood clots
Rectal cancer
Meningioma
Glioma
Congenital Heart Defects
Infant depression via epigenetic processes caused by maternal depression
Deficits in childhood cognitive development
Gastric Cancer
Migraines with aura
Low HDL
High homocysteine
Post-menopausal breast cancer
Atherosclerosis
Oral Clefts
Type 1 Diabetes
Epilepsy
Primary Closed Angle Glaucoma
Alzheimer's
Tetralogy of Fallot
Decreased telomere length
Potential drug toxicities: methotrexate, anti-epileptics
Cervical dysplasia
Increased bone fracture risk in post-menopausal women
Multiple Sclerosis
Essential Hypertension
Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma
Prostate Cancer
Premature Death
Placental Abruption
Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
Methotrexate Toxicity
Nitrous Oxide Toxicity
Heart Murmurs
Tight Anal Sphincters
Tongue Tie
Midline Defects (many are listed above)
Behcet's Disease
Ischemic Stroke in Children
Unexplained Neurologic Disease
Asthma
Shortness of Breath
Bladder Cancer
Anecephaly

http://mthfr.net/mthfr-mutations-and-the-conditions-they-cause/2011/09/07/

One might be able to add Raynaud’s to that list, since folate is low and it is needed for circulation.
WHEN NOT TO TAKE METHYL-FOLATE
http://mthfr.net/taking-folate-and-feeling-badly-methylation-requires-balance/2011/11/15/
According to this reference, if you methionine levels are high, then you might not tolerate the methyl-folate because it could raise methionine levels even higher. If your methionine levels are high, this doctor suggests trying P5P and magnesium first to help bring methionine levels down. Then you may be able to tolerate the methyl-folate.
Some people may have to start slowly, because the methyl-folate may open up microcirculation. When you first open up microcirculation, you may experience some inflammation or uncomfortable reactions.

WHERE TO PURCHASE METHYL-FOLATE AND FORMYL-FOLATE

Formyl-folate also goes by the names of formyltetrahydrofolate, folinic acid and leucovorin (prescription). If you are looking to purchase some formyl-folate, most vitamin supplements call it folinic acid. The other form available as a supplement is methyl-folate. It also goes by the names of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, and 5-MTHF. The vitamin supplements using this form call it a whole host of different names.
Life Extension calls their methyl-folate product Optimized Folate, and Metagenics calls their product FolaPro. Solgar calls their product just Folate. Nutricology calls their product QuatreActiv Folate. Jarrow calls their product Methyl-folate. Vitacost calls their product Bioavailable Folate. Thorne Research calls their product 5-MTHF. XYMOGEN® also calls their product 5-MTHF. These products contain anywhere from 0.4 to 1 mg per pill.

However, there are a couple of higher dose products if you need them. The price per unit active ingredient is cheaper with these. So, if you need a higher dose, use these instead of taking a lot of the lower dose pills. Neurobiologix sells Methyl-folate Plus and 5-MTHF. Each of these contains 5 mg per pill as well. However, there is also some folinic acid and niacinamide in the Methyl-folate Plus product. (So, it costs a bit more.) When you take into account the dose, these two Neurobiologix methyl-folate products are considerably cheaper per unit than the other products that I’ve seen on the market.

There are two prescription products that contain methyl-folate --- Deplin and Metanx. Deplin is specifically marketed as useful for treating depression. It is a high potency product containing 7.5 or 15 mg of methyl-folate per pill. (Rather expensive.) Another prescription that contains methyl-folate is Metanx. This prescription is used to treat diabetic neuropathy. It contains about 3 mg of methyl-folate per pill along with some other B vitamins in their active coenzyme form.
If you find something else on the market, make sure it is the pure L form, and that it doesn’t contain the D form. Someplace on the label, the product should say L-methyltetrahydrofolate, Metafolin or Quatrefolic.

VITAMIN B12

SIBO can interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12. (The bacteria can bind intrinsic factor that is required for absorption of B12.) B12 is needed for the health of the intestinal villi and is also required for good sleep. B12 helps the body dispose of nitric oxide, and thus helps reduce inflammation. Low B12 is associated with many autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s. The common parasites called Giardia and Diphylobothrium latum interfere with the absorption of B12.

There are different forms of B12 including cyano, methyl, adenosyl, and hydroxy. The cyano form of B12, which contains cyanide, isn’t a good bet, especially if one is mercury poisoned. The hydroxyl converts into the methyl and the adenosyl forms in the body. So, if you have no trouble with this conversion, hydroxyl-B12 is great. Get your doctor to give you some shots of this. However, to make thing simple, probably, the best thing to try would be a combination of adenosyl-B12 and methyl-B12.

For the methyl-B12, consider using a nasal spray. This is absorbed ten times better than the sublingual. (See Stan Kurtz’s website.) Currently, there seems to be only one brand of methyl-B12 liquid on the market. It is New Beginnings Methyl-Mate. Adult dose is two sprays per day in the nostril. Sometimes improved cognitive ability is seen within as little as a minute.

There is also a more recent B12 product which is a skin cream that is absorbed very well. It is called neuro immune stabilizer cream and sold at the Neurobiologix website. There is also a liquid adenosyl-B12 available that can be used under the tongue.

Vitamin B12 and curcumin are strong scavengers of nitric oxide. Therefore they may help reduce the intestinal inflammatory response to the SIBO bacteria’s LPS (lipopolysaccaride). Niacinamide is also helpful here. It reduces the amount of nitric oxide created when the body is exposed to LPS. Together, they may be of some use when there is danger of sepsis. With sepsis, excessive nitric oxide production expands blood vessels and creates extremely low blood pressure and hence heart failure.

Another consideration. When rats are exposed to LPS, they are able to survive the onslaught with much less damage to their intestines and organs if they are on a diet that excludes polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 oils. [1] Much fewer deaths result. This is another reason to avoid corn, soy, safflower, canola, peanut, flax and cottonseed oils.

1. Cook JA, Wise WC, Knapp DR, Halushka PV. “Essential fatty acid deficient rats: a new model for evaluating arachidonate metabolism in shock.” Adv Shock Res 1981;6:93-105; and Li EJ, Cook JA, Spicer KM, Wise WC, Rokach J, Halushka PV “Resistance of essential fatty acid-deficient rats to endotoxin-induced increases in vascular permeability.” Circ Shock 1990 Jun;31(2):159-170; and Autore G, Cicala C, Cirino G, Maiello FM, Mascolo N, Capasso F, “Essential fatty acid-deficient diet modifies PAF levels in stomach and duodenum of endotoxin-treated rats.” J Lipid Mediat Cell Signal 1994 Mar;9(2):145-5

 

[Spooky1]

Wow!!! i'm pleased my gastro bloke doesn't speak to me with all that info!!! at leasst here i can take my time over it, lol.

 

[PollyH]

Niacin or niacinamide seems to play an important role in colitis. Deficiency of niacin can cause colitis, and conversely, colitis can cause a deficiency of niacin.

If you add on top of that an inability to use niacin, due to a lack of methyl-folate, then I think you are asking for trouble.

I've already mentioned a few other benefits of adequate niacinamide. These are the fact it is anti-inflammatory and it helps slow down yeast growth and slow the formation of the yeast biofilms.

===============================
references:

"Niacin (vitamin B3) deficiency is known to cause diarrhea and colitis. ...Niacin deficiency after bariatric surgery is supported by finding low plasma niacin levels and by resolution of the symptoms of colitis during oral niacin therapy."

http://www.eventscribe.com/2012/acg/ajaxcalls/postersinfo.asp?title=6654

The Potential Role of Niacin in the Development of Indeterminant Colitis After Bariatric Surgery

Divyanshoo R. Kohli1, Raj Majithia1, I David Shocket1, Frederick C. Finelli1, Timothy R. Koch1
1. Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States.
======================
Pellagra is caused by a lack of niacin.

"Pellagra also occurred in the Southeastern United States in the early 1900’s and throughout the depression, when incomes were very low and corn products again played the major dietary role.

This deficiency can also be caused by conditions or diseases that either prevent or interfere with the absorption of niacin such as chronic alcoholism, prolonged bouts of diarrhea, and gastrointestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis. "

Read more: http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/niacin-deficiency/#ixzz2J9SGTFdG

 

[Samboi]

I have neutropenia - which means my immune system is almost non-existant.
When I challenged my GI about putting me on an immune suppressing biologic drug to manage my CD - she advised (after chuckling) that the immune supressor attacks totally different cells - presumably TNF cells.
Apparently my logic and deductive reasoning that a suppressed immune system was enough to minimize CD symptoms was extremely flawed!

Historically - I have noticed that each time I have an extra shot of neupogen to boost my immune system, I get a slight increase in diarrhea and mild cramping. My dose has just been increased to manage severe mouth ulcers - I will be interested in seeing what impact this has on my CD symptoms.

 

[Beach]

Niacin or niacinamide seems to play an important role in colitis. Deficiency of niacin can cause colitis, and conversely, colitis can cause a deficiency of niacin.

If you add on top of that an inability to use niacin, due to a lack of methyl-folate, then I think you are asking for trouble.

I've already mentioned a few other benefits of adequate niacinamide. These are the fact it is anti-inflammatory and it helps slow down yeast growth and slow the formation of the yeast biofilms.

===============================
references:

"Niacin (vitamin B3) deficiency is known to cause diarrhea and colitis. ...Niacin deficiency after bariatric surgery is supported by finding low plasma niacin levels and by resolution of the symptoms of colitis during oral niacin therapy."

http://www.eventscribe.com/2012/acg/ajaxcalls/postersinfo.asp?title=6654

The Potential Role of Niacin in the Development of Indeterminant Colitis After Bariatric Surgery

Divyanshoo R. Kohli1, Raj Majithia1, I David Shocket1, Frederick C. Finelli1, Timothy R. Koch1
1. Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States.
======================
Pellagra is caused by a lack of niacin.

"Pellagra also occurred in the Southeastern United States in the early 1900’s and throughout the depression, when incomes were very low and corn products again played the major dietary role.

This deficiency can also be caused by conditions or diseases that either prevent or interfere with the absorption of niacin such as chronic alcoholism, prolonged bouts of diarrhea, and gastrointestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis. "

Read more: http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/niacin-deficiency/#ixzz2J9SGTFdG

Interesting about the niacin. That is something I've been taking of late, so it isn't something I can rule out as helping. My D has all but stopped this past week. I'm a bit tired this morning, but of late I've been doing well to the gut and experiencing better energy. During this improved health time I also began taking some niacin, 500mgs twice a week. I've taken the brand Slo Niacin in the past to help with cholesterol control. (Slo Niacin found in most drug stores is pretty much the same product as prescription niacin.) This time I had a different idea in mind. I've noticed that niacin can sometimes give me very shinny hair and a nice attractive skin tone. I wondered why niacin only helped sometimes with appearance - so thought possibly this could be as a way to discover food allergies. An offending food would hurt my absorption abilities causing a poor appearance, while the opposite happens once the offending food is out of the diet - and niacin would exaggerate this. So far so good with the theory, might have found an "ugly" food. More work needs to be done though. (If, and it is a big if, the food I'm thinking is a problem maker for me, it could explain why I've gotten well to the gut in the past, but never felt I could fully recover. I apparently can eat a little of this food and not become terribly ill.)

Wanted to mention that while niacin pills are generally safe to take, if taken wrong can cause liver issues. Your doctor can test for this if concerned (liver testing is done once 1000mgs of more of niacin is taken per day.). Avoid slow release niacin. Also do not buy no flush niacin. This is a rip off, it does not work. Additionally niacin often causes an intense flushing for most that take it. The best way to limit the niacin flush is to eat some nuts with the pill, plus drink lots of water. For me, in the past before my body became used to niacin, it would cause me to turn bright red for around an hour, with a feeling of pins and needles sticking me all over. It wasn't terribly awful to experience, but I wanted to avoid being in public when it happened. I would joke that I looked like an Umpa lumpa with shinny hair. :redface:

Something else also, niacin at high doses can raise blood sugar levels. It is best to exercise after taking.

Thought this a nice article about ways to deal with a niacin flush.

"The dreaded niacin “flush”"

http://blog.trackyourplaque.com/2007/05/the-dreaded-niacin-flush.html

 

[David]

Polly, would you mind if I copied all your posts in this thread to their own thread? And if you're ok with it, what would you like the new thread to be named that you feel would encompass what you're teaching?

 

[PollyH]

I have neutropenia - which means my immune system is almost non-existant.

I assume you have looked at wikipedia and found that a lack of folate and/or B12, or copper could be the reason for the neutrapenia. If you need the copper, my personal experience was that I felt better using copper sebacate. If you need the folate, then consider the methyl-folate because it is more likely you have a MTHFr problem common in Crohn's and colitis. Folic acid might not be good for you. People with a type of cancer called MDS find that vitamin D3 and high dose vitamin K2 can be helpful in bringing up the platelet and red blood cell counts. The type of vitamin K2 used in studies is the MK-4 form of it. The studies have been using a lot of the MK-4 form, 50 mg. You can get 15 mg pills of the MK-4 vitamin K2 from Relentless Improvement or Advanced Orthomolecular Research (AOR). Of course, the cheaper MK-7 form might work. I'm not implying that you have cancer. Don't worry. However, if it works for the people with cancer, it might work for you. Besides bringing up your vitamin D3 and K2 levels would be helpful because they are anti-inflammatory. Here is a forum where they are talking about a study involving vitamin D3 and K2 to bring up the white blood count. http://forums.marrowforums.org/showthread.php?p=25075

(It is also important to use both vitamins, along with a little vitamin A. The fat soluble vitamins need balance. By the way, carotene isn't always a good way to bring up your vitamin A. Children and those with low thyroid are unable to use the carotene to increase vitamin A. So use the real vitamin A.)

If you are deficient in vitamin D, a doctor may give you a high dose vitamin D2. However, the natural vitamin D3 works better. The only place I know to get the high dose vitamin D3, is from International Anti-aging Systems. A typical protocol is to give you 50,000 IU three times a week for a month. Then they retest in 3 months. (That is how often insurance will pay for testing.) However, you can order vitamin D testing yourself. Then you can find out more quickly if the therapy is working. The vitamin D council has referrals on where to get the testing. Here is a very entertaining video by Dr. Stasha Gominak's, a sleep doctor, on the amount of vitamin D that you need. (Not too much and not too little.) She talks about getting her patient’s vitamin D 25(OH) levels into a narrow range of between 60 and 80 mg/mL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7cbBB1c0IM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1APENOUWxBQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JUq4fphjC0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeb3PtkCd_c&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOUybbVOoRU&feature=related

Wikipedia also mentioned arsenic poisoning from ground water as a possible reason for the neutropenia. (The people in Southern California are at risk for this in the USA.) The arsenic interferes with your folates.

There are other sources of arsenic. In the USA, they legally feed chickens arsenic. This is allowed because arsenic can kill parasites. However, the arsenic also makes the chickens grow faster, and hence the farmers make more money. Fortunately, one of the major feed producers has recently stopped putting arsenic in their chicken feed. They stopped when it was shown that the arsenic was present in the livers of chickens. (It was easier to test for it in the liver. We don't know if it accumulates in the meat. However, the meat does become more pink.) I'd read that Tyson doesn't feed their chickens arsenic, because Russia refuses to by the meat. You might call and find out if they still have that policy. Of course, your other option is organic chickens.

Another source of arsenic is rice if it is grown in soil high in arsenic. Rice preferentially takes up arsenic from the soil. Unfortunately, they used a lot of arsenic pesticides on some of the cotton fields in the Southern US states. So, rice grown there may be high in arsenic. You can do a search for the arsenic content of rice and where it was grown.

You can get rid of the arsenic with the typical chelation protocols.

The mouth sores may be related to the viruses typically associated with Crohn's and colitis. These viruses are particularly hard on your selenium stores. Also, selenium and sometimes lysine will help get rid of them.

 

[PollyH]

Polly, would you mind if I copied all your posts in this thread to their own thread? And if you're ok with it, what would you like the new thread to be named that you feel would encompass what you're teaching?

We are getting off topic, aren't we. How about naming the new thread The Fungus-Yeast Connection.

 

[shamrock15]

Some really good info here - big thanks to Dave and Polly. I am at a bit of a loss on how to take carbs out of my diet though. I know I need to limit at least the simple sugars due to effects that I have noticed. I don't absorb much fat due to previous surgeries, so I could potentially end up with a real shortage of raw calories otherwise. Even the shift from enriched white bread to store baked has lead to a loss of weight for me. Need to get calories from somewhere!

 

[David]

We are getting off topic, aren't we. How about naming the new thread The Fungus-Yeast Connection.

Thank you. I have copied your posts here.

Folks, if you want to discuss what Polly is saying, please take it to this new thread. Let's allow the thread as it is to discuss Dave's work.

Thank you.

 

[Hope345]

Keep the articles, information and debate coming. It is good to question everything.

One more addition, why does my nephew, 10 years older than my daughter have the exact same Crohns symptoms? just something to add into the pot.

It would seem genetics are involved along with the infections...

the cause will tie it all in together.

 

[tots]

In was a very healthy kid- the ONLY health issue I had was diagnosed Crohns. My favorite foods- were fruits, veggies, and salads.

Once I got sick enough I couldn't eat any of that.

If carbs are the problem why the h$&& does salad cause severe pain and diarrhea?

I just don't follow yoit logic. I have not heard of people ending up in the hospital
over carbs.



lauren

 

[Laura44]

Thanks for the article!

 

[Spooky1]

Can;t take B3 at all. i end up phoning nhs direct. the flush is full body and very very red, itchy and cold baths for five hours, any suggestions. i have crohns

 

[Beach]

Thought this a nice article on how to get rid of the niacin flush. It helped me greatly in the past as I can flush badly also.

"The dreaded niacin “flush”"

http://blog.trackyourplaque.com/2007/05/the-dreaded-niacin-flush.html

snippet from Dr. Davis's article:

As most anybody who takes niacin knows, it can cause a hot flushed feeling over the chest and face that is generally harmless, though quite annoying.

Many doctors are frightened by this response and will warn patients off from niacin. Some people who take niacin are so annoyed that they find it intolerable.

However, a very simple maneuver can relieve the hot flush in over 90% of instances: Drink water. Let me explain.

I usually instruct patients to take niacin at dinnertime. That way, food slows absorption modestly. I also ask them to drink water with dinner. If the flush occurs after dinner (usually 30-60 minutes later), then drinking two 8-12 oz glasses of water immediately breaks the flush within 3 minutes in the great majority of people. It’s quite dramatic.

Doing this around dinner (lunch works just as well) allows sufficient time to clear the excess water from your body before bedtime and spare you the aggravation of disrupted sleep to urinate. Drinking plenty of water works most of the time. Only an occasional person will need to take a 325 mg uncoated aspirin to more fully break the flush. I generally suggest that patients keep the uncoated aspirin in reserve if the water doesn’t provide relief within a few minutes.

Thankfully, the intensity of the niacin flush lessens, often disappears, with chronic use....

 

[Grant]

Wow. This is totally the opposite to what I thought like Nitty. Tks D Bergy for posting a simple explanation.
Rgds
Grant

 

[Spooky1]

I don't quite get the anaphalactic shock but i flush for at least four hours and from head to toe. nhs direct said i'm probably allergic to it. good website though, very interesting and i might give it a go with the quercetin. many thanks though.

 

[sugacookie]

Hi Dave, thank you for taking your time to write your post.

I have been told by many people if you cut sugar and dairy from your diet and you can see a great improvement to crohns.

I have recently had a sub-total colectomy and formation of ileostomy, so theirfore have a stoma bag for life. I am theirfore very confused about what to eat and what diet to follow. The stoma nurse said to me only drink fruit squash not plaine water as you will get dehydrayted but that just sounds wrong.

Can you recomend anything or do you know anywhere I can get some info?

Thank you x

 

[Beach]

I don't quite get the anaphalactic shock but i flush for at least four hours and from head to toe. nhs direct said i'm probably allergic to it. good website though, very interesting and i might give it a go with the quercetin. many thanks though.

I was reminded yesterday why I stopped taking niacin regularly. I used to take 1000mgs of niacin a day to help control cholesterol levels. It did a decent job of raising HDL levels and lowering LDL a bit, along with changing the particle size. What I didn't enjoy though was how niacin made me feel lethargic. Over the weekend, I decided to take 500mgs of niacin Saturday and 500mgs Sunday. Yesterday evening I was feeling it, having lower energy than I thought i should. I'm going back to my taking niacin once or twice a week routine.

 

[PollyH]

I don't quite get the anaphalactic shock but i flush for at least four hours and from head to toe. nhs direct said i'm probably allergic to it. good website though, very interesting and i might give it a go with the quercetin. many thanks though.

Niacin gives a flush, but niacinamide does not. Must you use the niacin? I think for most purposes, niacinamide would be just fine. With Crohn’s and colitis, the niacinamide would fulfill the primary needs of lowering inflammation and helping to remove the acetaldehyde, yeast and yeast biofilms. Why make the body go through the extra step of converting niacin into niacinamide? The niacinamide should also be a little easier on the liver.

In the case of Crohn’s and colitis, I think sometimes niacin could be the wrong thing to use. Some people use niacin to lower cholesterol, especially the “bad” LDL cholesterol. (Niacinamide doesn’t lower cholesterol but niacin does.) Yet, is that what you want? Lower cholesterol? You need to be careful here. It is the LDL cholesterol that protects the body from the toxins generated in the gut. LDL cholesterol should not be allowed to drop too low. Also, if your total cholesterol drops below 160 mg/dl, then there are general health problems that ensue. You are more susceptible to staph, strep and tuberculosis infections. You are more likely to suffer from depression or poor brain function. So, before using niacin, you need to look at your LDL cholesterol and your total cholesterol levels. If those are super high, then perhaps you want to use niacin. If not, then maybe you are better off using the niacinamide.

According to the following references, cholesterol is low during active or acute Crohn’s. Cholesterol levels may be low due to a decreased dietary intake and/or decreased synthesis. Either way, low cholesterol is associated with a poorer outcome in many critical diseases.

Cholesterol metabolism in active Crohn's disease.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19562284

[Changes in lipid metabolism in patients in the active phase of Crohn's disease]. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18072426

LIPID METABOLISM IN ACTIVE CROHN’S DISEASE: PRE-RESULTS
http://mefanet.upol.cz/BP/2006/2/363.pdf

We detected lower serum levels of total cholesterol (P < 0.001), LDL- and HDL-cholesterol (P < 0.05) in the patients with active Crohn's disease than in the control group.

The serum total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations were lower in patients with acute Crohn's disease than in the control group. … Alteration in lipid metabolism has been described in patients after trauma, surgery, burn injury or in sepsis and low level of cholesterol in critically ill patients is associated with poor prognosis1–3.

 

[PollyH]

The stoma nurse said to me only drink fruit squash not plaine water as you will get dehydrayted x

Sugar and salt help you absorb your water. You don't have to add in a lot of sugar to get the benefits. For instance, Gatorade isn't that sweet, and yet it is specifically used for hydration. However, be careful with which flavor of Gatorade that you use. Some of the Gatorade products contain bromated vegetable oil. There is enough bromine in those drinks to cause illness in people who use a lot of it. (The bromated vegetable oil is used to make the lemony flavor more uniform.)

 

[Beach]

Sure, I can give the no flush niacin a try to see if it helps further with the gut, and effects energy levels. Thanks for the article links. I'm no longer much of a believer in cholesterol being majorly involved with heart disease, and that played a part in my stoping the niacin too. I'm now under the impression that it is best to have a CT heart scan to see if plaque is present, and if so find out why from the many risk factors that make heart disease plaque possible.

 

[PollyH]

Sure, I can give the no flush niacin a try to see if it helps further with the gut, and effects energy levels.

No flush niacin is also called inositol hexaniacinate. That isn't the same thing as niacinamide. It is really confusing because niacinamide doesn't cause flushing and inositol hexaniacinate doesn't cause flushing, but only one of them got the name of "no-flush" niacin.

I believe the niacinamide would be a much better choice for someone with IBD. The inositol hexaniacinate has the draw back of reducing cholesterol. Plus I bet it would also increase insulin resistance. (Niacin reduces cholesterol by formation of a chemical that also causes the insulin resistance.)

 

[Redtail]

First post. I'll probably come across as a bit crass, but really I am not.

My mind is always open to new ideas and theories. The fact is, poor oral hygeine and oral disease has been linked to a whole lot more than just Crohn's, the mouth being the direct opening to a tunnel that leads right to the core of the organs.
To see a study linking Crohn's to this, really is just the latest in many diseases that have already been linked. All sorts of GI disorders along with heart disease, liver diseases, cancer, etc. . Now, they are going to have to sort out the information they have. In the coming years, some will probably be found to be coincidental, some likely will not.
Swallowing high amounts of harmful bacteria in to your GI system likely can have all kinds of nasty effects on the body. It's not just from tooth and gum decay, but rotting food in the form of plaque can produce these populations of germs that one would rather not have inside their own mouths.

Brush, floss, waterpik. Religeously. Even if you have a mouthful of cavities right now, doing so can quickly clean up and keep the levels of these microorganisms where they belong. Your cavities will remain a problem, but at least your mouth will be clean.

 

[jac521]

I personally just don't get the no sugar, no carbs theory. About all I can eat is simple sugars, and simple carbs. Complex carbs and fruits and vegetables I cannot tolerate. I used to be able to eat a Caesar salad, but I can't even eat that now. I don't think that there is a "one size fits all" diet or treatment for anyone. Just my two cents.

 

[tots]

I am not following the sugar to carbs to oral hygiene.

With the amount of low income families and lack of dental care, Crohns would be much more common.

Not to mention as jac521 said for a lot of us that's most of what dosent make us sick.


Lauren

 

[PollyH]

I personally just don't get the no sugar, no carbs theory. About all I can eat is simple sugars, and simple carbs. Complex carbs and fruits and vegetables I cannot tolerate. I used to be able to eat a Caesar salad, but I can't even eat that now. I don't think that there is a "one size fits all" diet or treatment for anyone. Just my two cents.

The theory of the SCD diet is that your body needs to get the sugars and carbohydrates before the bacteria and yeast get them. If you can eat simple sugars, that is wonderful. It means your problem is further down in the intestines. Keep on eating a little of these with each meal. They are good for you! Just avoid the polyunsaturated oils that cause yeast to overgrow.

 

[Pentasa]

Too much scientific jargon. Nature is simple. Eat the foods you were meant to eat, exercise and be healthy.

 

[PollyH]

The theory of the SCD diet is that your body needs to get the sugars and carbohydrates before the bacteria and yeast get them. If you can eat simple sugars, that is wonderful. It means your problem is further down in the intestines. Keep on eating a little of these with each meal. They are good for you! Just avoid the polyunsaturated oils that cause yeast to overgrow.

The best way to get sugars is from fruit. You get vitamins a minerals that way. However, you may have to peel the fruit at first. Also, the SCD diet suggests that you start by cooking your fruit. It makes it easier to digest that way.

 

[PollyH]

Too much scientific jargon. Nature is simple. Eat the foods you were meant to eat, exercise and be healthy.

That is perfect advice if you have a healthy body and want to keep it that way. However, once things are broken, you need to be more careful with your diet and supplements. The only advice that the gastroenterologist gave me was to watch which foods made my condition better or worse. That was good advice. I ended up re-inventing the classic anti-candida diet. (I didn't have Crohn's or colitis. The only thing the doctor found was yeast in the lab tests, but but told me that yeast doesn't mean anything, because everyone has that.)

 

[tots]

Pentasa

I wish it were as simple as a healthy diet and exercise.

For me fresh fruits and vegetables make me very sick. It is
Really that simple.

Lauren

 

[jac521]

Tots said:

For me fresh fruits and vegetables make me very sick. It is
Really that simple.


Ditto tots - fruits and vegetables make me very sick also. Along with the so called "healthy" whole wheat bread stuff. I can only eat the "bad for you" white bread stuff!

Jac521

 

[David]

The theory of the SCD diet is that your body needs to get the sugars and carbohydrates before the bacteria and yeast get them. If you can eat simple sugars, that is wonderful. It means your problem is further down in the intestines. Keep on eating a little of these with each meal. They are good for you! Just avoid the polyunsaturated oils that cause yeast to overgrow.

My theory on the SCD is it forces you to eat healthier, your magnesium intake increases, 1,25(OH)2D (calcitriol) (magnesium is a cofactor of vitamin D) production increases, and the body starts fighting off those bacteria and yeast as the immune system begins to function again.

I don't think anything starves. I think our immune system kicks their little *****.

 

[PollyH]

I don't think anything starves. I think our immune system kicks their little *****.

I agree that you can't get rid of the bacteria and yeast by starving them. However, if you slow either their growth or the production of their toxins, then you are better off.

 

[LondonSnow]

My mum did always say that having six spoons of sugar in my tea everyday was probably a bad idea.

 

[tots]

Jac 521

After 22(?)yrs my mom still says if you ate this or that you would feel better.


Right... I gave up on that topic along time ago.


Lauren

 

[jac521]

tots-

People think I don't want to eat fruits, vegetables, or high fiber food and that is not true. They make me sick and it seems lately there is less and less I can eat without becoming sick.

jac521

 

[Hope345]

My daughter has always had a sweet tooth, and even with good teeth brushing, had several cavities as a young child. I was told that some people develop more bacteria in their mouth than others. My older daughter did not have one cavity for 15 years.(She does not have Crohns)

So the question is: Could that have been one early symptom, (increased bacteria in mouth) of Crohns?

The integumentary System is responsible for the saliva in the mouth. Saliva in your mouth contains an enzyme called lysozyme which kills bacteria. It is also responsible for inflammation. There certainly could be a connection.

 

[David]

I'd wager that it wasn't so much bacteria that was the problem but mineral and maybe vitamin deficiencies that led to degradation of her teeth.

The thing is, there is always a ton of bacteria in our mouth. In fact, most of us often even have some strep bacteria present. But there is a BALANCE so none grow out of control and create disease. I'm always very weary of products that kill bacteria and advertise that as some benefit as that negatively affects the balance.

It's not the bacteria that's the problem. It's the health of the immune system. If our immune system is working as it should, then it keeps things in balance.

My wife works in a hospital. As such, we are both no doubt MRSA carriers. So why don't we get MRSA infections when others do? Why don't we constantly get the flu and colds even when nurses, doctors, and techs around her are getting them and taking them home to their family? Because we take the necessary steps to ensure our immune systems are healthy.

For us, those steps are an extremely healthy organic diet focusing on high quantities of vitamins, minerals, essential and beneficial nutrients, plenty of vitamin D via the sun, some supplementation, exercise, stress reduction, proper hydration, and not using any anti-bacterial anything.

 

[Hope345]

David,

What you are saying is probably part of the problem. Although, both daughters grew up in the same household eating almost the exact foods.

I just think more of the research centers should look at this as a possibility. If it is genetic, which I believe it is, something is flawed in the IBD patients body. It could be the endocrine system and start here. Crohns starts in the mouth and can go through the entire digestive tract. So why the mouth?

What if the endocrine system causes the lack of enzyme which fights the bacteria, which in turn affects the immune system to fail, mainly in the digestive tract?

The enzymes Amylase and lysozyme are produced in saliva. I just read this below:

Serum and urine lysozyme levels may be elevated in acute myelomonocytic leukemia (FAB-M4), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), and chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). Increased serum lysozyme activity is present in tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, megaloblastic anemias, acute bacterial infections, ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis, and Crohn disease. Elevated levels of urine and serum lysozyme occur during severe renal insufficiency, renal transplant rejection, urinary tract infections, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, and nephrosis.

 

[jac521]

Sorry - I messed up.
jac521

 

[PollyH]

Sugar and salt help you absorb your water. You don't have to add in a lot of sugar to get the benefits. For instance, Gatorade isn't that sweet, and yet it is specifically used for hydration. However, be careful with which flavor of Gatorade that you use. Some of the Gatorade products contain bromated vegetable oil. There is enough bromine in those drinks to cause illness in people who use a lot of it. (The bromated vegetable oil is used to make the lemony flavor more uniform.)

I heard on the news last night that Gatorade removed the bromated vegetable oil from its drinks. However, it may still be present in other drinks. You will have to read labels.

 

[Spooky1]

our equivalent, lucozade, has sunset yellow in and comes with a health warning of hyperactivity on the label. i would drink it otherwise, but i'm like a child having eaten all the wrong things at a birthday party.

 

[aloe]

Thanks for all this info. The theory that it's inflammatory and not auto-immune makes sense to me. I wonder about the acid causing burns though because I have stricturing in a small section of my ileum. The section was removed, and now 20 years later it started to stricture again in the same area. If it was an acid burn, why would it only be happening in that one section, and why would it grow back?

In another thread I mentioned some info about chewing more, and in that blog post (on the Megan's Mind blog) she explains that unchewed food causes your stomach to produce more acids to try and break down the food. She believes that acid production which is unnecessary if you chew enough might be causing Crohn's. I have been accused of eating fast and not chewing enough, so that seemed like a possibility for me.

If the theory about carbs and sugars is true, why do only certain people get Crohn's? I've always had a pretty normal/healthy diet, and barely any cavities. I am on the low-residue diet now too, but if I chew enough, fresh vegetables don't cause me problems, so I'm having trouble convincing myself that I should stay low-residue. My doctor insists it will help me avoid surgery, so I'm sticking with it. I do crave sugar like crazy, and I don't notice problems when I eat a small amount of sweets.

I tried the SCD diet and after 3 days of intense diarrhea, had to go back to my normal diet. Plain chicken, small amounts of rice, and steamed vegetables mainly are my staple, and if I stick with that mostly, I don't get diarrhea often. Since I'm dealing with a fistula, it seems a high priority to avoid diarrhea which I believe causes fistulas and makes them worse.

 

[PollyH]

our equivalent, lucozade, has sunset yellow in and comes with a health warning of hyperactivity on the label. i would drink it otherwise, but i'm like a child having eaten all the wrong things at a birthday party.

Yes, all the artificial colors can aggravate hyperactivity. Some people find relief from the hyperactivity by following the Feingold diet. It lowers the amount of phenols and salicylates in the diet. (Things like artificial colorings are removed from the diet.) The need for this diet may have to do with a weak PST enzyme in the liver. Food colorings (they contain phenolics) and salicylates inhibit this enzyme.

Sulfates and thyroid can help support the PST enzyme. Active B6, P5P, is necessary for the activity of this enzyme, but too much P5P (pyridoxal-5-phosphate) will inhibit this enzyme. Of course mercury messes up this enzyme. Glycine and an alkaline urine pH will help the body remove salicylates through the urine.

If you take the Feingold diet to the extreme, you get Sarah's diet. With Sarah's diet, you avoid even all the natural colors found in food. Note that some people have trouble with certain colors but not others. It is more likely that green will be tolerated among those with autism.

 

[SugarberryGA]

I have three questions:

Is Dave a physician or a scientist?

Like Sarah50, why do I feel better when I eat refined carbs and sugars, but feel worse when I eat things that are supposed to be good for me? When I was the sickest years ago, the only thing that wouldn't come out the other end and actually made me feel better, were vanilla milkshakes from McDonald's. Go figure.

If Crohn's disease is not an autoimmune disorder, then why does Remicade work so well?

 

[Dave Watson]

A1. Amateur scientist, with various post-grad qualifications.

A2. Opinions are interesting, but when trying to solve complex problems - like Crohn's - it's better to work with established data. For example, there are over 12 studies that confirm carb links to Crohn's, multiple studies and several decades of anecdotal evidence support that carb restriction can help CD.

A3. Suggesting that CD is an autoimmune disease because Remicade may help does not make sense. There is NO evidence that CD is an autoimmune disease. Read this paper about the mis-labelling of CD as an autoimmune disease: http://211.144.68.84:9998/91keshi/Public/File/36/376-9736/pdf/1-s2.0-S0140673610602826-main.pdf

Also, what if certain bacteria invaded the immune cells of CD sufferers and these immune cells "spewed out" TNF, and Remicade simply caused the infected immune cells to die and thus improved the disease and perhaps induced remission, does that mean CD is an autoimmune disease?

I have three questions:

Is Dave a physician or a scientist?

Like Sarah50, why do I feel better when I eat refined carbs and sugars, but feel worse when I eat things that are supposed to be good for me? When I was the sickest years ago, the only thing that wouldn't come out the other end and actually made me feel better, were vanilla milkshakes from McDonald's. Go figure.

If Crohn's disease is not an autoimmune disorder, then why does Remicade work so well?

 

[Hope345]

Dave,

Keep studying, posting and engaging in our forum. Maybe you will be the one to cure Crohns. I am still stuck thinking it starts with the enzymes in the mouth, maybe the lack there of to digest the sugars and foods we eat.

Cant wait until your next post.

do you think that Amylase or the other enzymes could play a role in Crohns?

 

[SugarberryGA]

Dave, I do appreciate the research you've done and the time it has taken you to compile everything. I'm open to new ways of looking at Crohn's; however, my gastroenterologist is one of the most well-respected in the country and he's convinced the CD is an autoimmune disease. Honestly, I do hope you're on to something and that a cure can be found. What do you know about the genetic link? Just curious. Thanks.

 

[Dave Watson]

SugarberryGA, I understand your respect for your GI, but ask him for proof that CD is an autoimmune disease; there is none, in fact, the only available evidence suggests the exact opposite!

As for the genetic element of CD, multiple studies have confirmed Crohn's sufferers have a WEAK immune response, see below.

In Crohn’s disease, a constitutionally weak immune response predisposes to accumulation of intestinal contents that breach the mucosal barrier of the bowel wall.
Source: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/la...265-2/abstract

The cause of Crohn’s disease (CD) remains poorly understood. Counterintuitively, these patients possess an impaired acute inflammatory response, which could result in delayed clearance of bacteria penetrating the lining.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2737162/

recent molecular biological and clinical investigations indicate that CD is actually a primary immunodeficiency. 9
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20594132​

Now, if CD is not an autoimmune disease and there no sign of an aggressive immune response in the guts of Crohn's sufferers, what the hell is causing the the inflammation and ulcers?

Great post here by David: http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?p=589382 about SSI.

Now read this study about granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor for CD: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12433518

There's a connection! It's proven bacteria are penetrating the gut lining in Crohn's. Normally, immune cells protect the gut lining but excess TNF can affect there normal behaviour (is that why TNF blockers work?). What if SSI and GMCSF are simply recruiting immune cells to the inflamed tissues where they remove bacteria from the gut lining contributing to the inflammation as well as dead cells?

In Dr Olendzki's study with a low-carb diet, all CD sufferers improved and virtually all were off TNF blockers.

What could link SSI, GMCSF, TNF blockers and Dr Olendzki's study? Bacteria?

Consider what Dr Olendzki stated: "These carbohydrates are thought to provide a substrate for pro-inflammatory bacteria. "

If we want to get to the bottom of Crohn's, let's find out what certain bacteria are doing with sugars/starches that could cause inflammation and ulcers?

Dave, I do appreciate the research you've done and the time it has taken you to compile everything. I'm open to new ways of looking at Crohn's; however, my gastroenterologist is one of the most well-respected in the country and he's convinced the CD is an autoimmune disease. Honestly, I do hope you're on to something and that a cure can be found. What do you know about the genetic link? Just curious. Thanks.

 

[SugarberryGA]

Why do my symptoms improve when eating a low residue diet, but return when I eat foods that are "healthful?" Oh well, I'm not sure any of us will ever know what causes CD. I do know people who have gone into full-blown remission for the first time in their lives after starting Remicade infusions, so I can't help but think it works. Thanks again for everything. You've given me a lot to think about.

 

[Dave Watson]

Here's the story of woman who used tree bark to "cure" her Crohn's: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...s-disease-says-grandmother.html#axzz2K8VNQ181

What could certain tree bark and Remicade have in common?

(If you dig deep enough, you'll find the connection.)

 

[Dave Watson]

This study shows that cannabis can potentially improve Crohn's: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21910367

Video of Shona who used hemp oil to induce remission where drugs failed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_otUB7pVMA

What's the connection: hemp oil, tree bark, low carb diet, SSI, TNF blockers, etc?

 

[SugarberryGA]

Oh my. Well, I'm certainly not going to eat tree bark nor use an illegal substance to treat my CD. I'll just stick with the Pentasa and Entocort. Thanks though for sharing the links..

 

[David]

Oh my. Well, I'm certainly not going to eat tree bark nor use an illegal substance to treat my CD. I'll just stick with the Pentasa and Entocort. Thanks though for sharing the links..

You may want to ask your GI what he thinks about this Cochrane review that suggests that mesalamine (the active ingredient in Pentasa) is no better than placebo.

Conversely, there are a variety of studies showcasing the efficacy of medical marijuana and the science behind medical marijuana is pretty darn good.

 

[burton1064]

Dave, where can I find the next article in this series? ~Scott