LOW-RESIDUE DIET *Defined*- Said To Be Helpful For IBD Suffers

I've seen this diet as an option for people with IBD and I wasn't sure what it consisted of.  Well, now I do and I wanted to share it with all my crohnie peeps.  I've made comments that you will see in bold and underlined throughout the article.  Just FYI.  

The Low-Residue Diet

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) -- like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis -- ordiverticulitis, your doctor may suggest you follow a low-residue diet. A low-residue diet involves eating more easily digestible foods. A low-residue diet may reduce symptoms of IBD, such as diarrhea and stomach cramping; however, it will not cure IBD.

What Is a Low-Residue Diet?A low-residue diet is a diet in which fiber and other foods that are harder for your body to digest are restricted. Fiber is made up of plant material that cannot be completely digested by the body. High-fiber foods include whole-grain breads and cereals, nuts, seeds, and raw or dried fruits.Residue refers to undigested foods, including fiber, that make up stool. If intestinal walls are inflamed or damaged, digestion and absorption of nutrients and water may be impaired, depending on the location of disease activity.In some people with Crohn’s disease, the small intestine may also become very narrowed. The idea behind a low-residue diet is to reduce the number and size of bowel movements you have each day, thereby lessening painful IBD symptoms such as cramping, diarrhea, bloating, and gas. However, it does not affect inflammation or the disease itself.A low-residue/low-fiber diet may be recommended for short-term use during disease flare-ups or following surgery to help with recovery. However, it is not a general eating plan for all people with IBD. Your health care provider or nutritionist can help make sure your diet plan is appropriate. In addition to dietary changes, your health care provider or nutritionist may recommend vitamin supplements.Low-Residue Diet: Foods to EnjoyEating a low-residue/low-fiber diet goes against what nutritionists tout as a healthy way to eat because it severely limits fiber intake and other important nutrients. A low-residue/low-fiber diet usually stays away from grainy, nutty foods that are loaded with fiber.Here are foods you can eat if you are on a low-residue diet:Grains

• Refined or enriched white breads and plain crackers, such as saltines or Melba toast (no seeds).

• Cooked cereals, such as farina, cream of wheat, and grits.

• Cold cereals, such as puffed rice and corn flakes.

• White rice, noodles, and refined pasta.

Fruits and VegetablesThe skin and seeds of many fruits and vegetables are loaded with fiber, so peeling skin and avoiding seeds is part of a low-residue diet. The following vegetables can be eaten on a low-residue diet:

• Well cooked fresh vegetables or canned vegetables without seeds, such as asparagus tips, beets, green beans, carrots, mushrooms, spinach, squash (no seeds), and pumpkin.

• Cooked potatoes without skin.

• Tomato sauce (no seeds).

Fruits include:

• Ripe bananas

• Soft cantaloupe

• Honeydew

• Canned or cooked fruits without seeds or skin, such as applesauce or canned pears

• Avocado

Milk and DairyMilk products are OK to eat, in moderation. Milk does not contain fiber but it may trigger symptoms such as diarrhea and cramping for some people with lactose intolerance. Alternatively, using lactase supplements or eating lactose-free products may be options.Meats and ProteinYou can enjoy most meats, including beef, lamb, chicken, fish (no bones), and pork as long as they are lean, tender, and soft. Eggs are also OK to eat.Fats, Sauces, and CondimentsAll of the following condiments are fine to eat on a low-residue diet:

• Margarine, butter, and oils

• Mayonnaise and ketchup

• Sour cream

• Smooth sauces and salad dressing

• Soy sauce

• Clear jelly, honey, and syrup

Sweets and SnacksYou can still satisfy your sweet tooth on a low-residue diet. The following desserts and snacks are OK to eat, in moderation:

• Plain cakes and cookies

• Gelatin, plain puddings, custard, and sherbet

• Ice cream and popsicles

• Hard candy

• Pretzels

• Vanilla wafers

DrinksSafe drinks to enjoy on a low-residue diet include:

• Decaffeinated coffee, tea, and carbonated beverages (caffeine can irritate the stomach) Be careful with carbonated drinks as they sometimes irritate.  Coffee for me is a no-no.... Yes, even decaf.

• Milk  AVOID if you are flaring or are lactose intolerant/dairy sensitive

• Juices made without seeds or pulp, such as apple juice, no-pulp orange juice, and cranberry juice

• Strained vegetable juices

 Low-Residue Diet: Foods to AvoidWhile on a low-residue diet, these foods or drinks are generally avoided:

• Seeds, nuts, or coconut, including those found in bread, cereal, desserts, and candy.

• Whole-grain products, including whole-grain breads, cereals, crackers, pasta, rice is okay, and kasha. ***If you have Celiac or feel sick after eating anything grainy, avoid products that have gluten in them and get the gluten free option.  If you are flared, AVOID gluten all together until your condition calms down.  Make sure to slowly reintroduce these foods back into your diet after restricting this food for a certain period.  FYI - The reason that so many people are sensitive to grains and/or developing allergies to gluten, is because of the way companies make the grain products.  The quality of our food is on the decline.  Because of the need to mass produce, the grain products are made in a way that has a negative effect on digestion.  (companies skip  some of the vital steps that is necessary to make a good quality bread/pasta/cereals because it cuts back on the time it takes to make the product.)
• **Remember - All Rice is free of gluten  

• Raw or dried fruits, such as prunes, berries, raisins, figs, and pineapple.

• Most raw vegetables.

• Certain cooked vegetables, including peas, broccoli, winter squash, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, corn (and corn bread), onions, cauliflower, potatoes with skin, and baked beans.

• Beans, lentils, or tofu. Tough meats with gristle and smoked or cured deli meats.

• Cheese with seeds, nuts, or fruit.

• Peanut butter, jam, marmalade, or preserves.

• Pickles, olives, relish, sauerkraut, and horseradish.

• Popcorn.

• Fruit juices with pulp or seeds, prune juice, or pear nectar.

Low-Residue Diet: Sample MenuThere are many meal options to choose from on a low-residue diet. In fact, you can even buy cookbooks that specialize in low-residue meals. Here are some meal options to get you started:Breakfast

• Decaffeinated coffee with cream and sugar

• Cup of juice, such as no-pulp orange juice, apple juice, or cranberry juice

• Cream of wheat

• Scrambled eggs

• Waffles, French toast, or pancakes

• White bread toast with margarine and grape jelly (no seeds)

Lunch

• Baked chicken, white rice, canned carrots or green beans

• Salad with baked chicken, American cheese, smooth salad dressing, white dinner roll

• Baked potato (no skin), with sour cream and butter or margarine

• Hamburger with white seedless bun, ketchup, and mayonnaise -- lettuce if it doesn't worsen your symptoms

Dinner

• Tender roast beef, white rice, cooked carrots or spinach, white dinner roll with margarine or butter

• Pasta with butter or olive oil, French bread, fruit cocktail

• Baked chicken, white rice or baked potato without skin, and cooked green beans

• Broiled fish, white rice, and canned green beans

Low-Residue Diet: Making It Work

You may find that some of the foods listed under "foods to avoid" do not bother you, while others on the "foods to enjoy" list cause discomfort. Everyone tolerates food differently. To determine what's right for you, keep a food diary for a few weeks. By tracking what you eat and how it makes you feel, you can get a better idea of what works for you.If you are generally a healthy eater who enjoys whole grains, nuts, and raw fruits and vegetables, shifting to a low-residue diet may be hard. But if you enjoy your white bread and pasta, don't mind canned fruits and vegetables, and are content to snack on saltines and vanilla wafers, a low-residue diet may come naturally. But remember, a low-residue diet is not a healthy way to eat for a long period of time because it omits many important nutrients. If your condition requires you to stay on a low-residue diet over a long period of time, talk to a registered dietitian or nutritionexpert to make sure you are getting all the nutrients you need to stay healthy. You may need to supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals.

WEBMD - Direct Link to Article

Stem Cells For Crohn's Disease Treatment - The Beginning

This is an old article talking about Stem Cells for treating Crohn's Disease.  This article was written in 2001 and this was a new and experimental treatment that didn't have results that could be shared with the world due to the needed experimentation and lack of noted progress of patients who had received this therapy. Now that this treatment has been in the works for 11 years now, what have they found?  I plan to research that right now and find out.  I'll post that next.  

First Patient to Get Stem Cell Treatment for Crohn's in Remission

Aug. 10, 2001 -- Joy Weiss treated herself to a Big Mac for lunch on Friday and then considered whether she should top off the meal with a salad, some fruit, or both. For most 20-somethings, that doesn't sound like an extraordinary lunch choice, but for Weiss it's a miracle meal.

The miracle in this case is a controversial, experimental medical procedure that involves stem cells harvested from a patient's own bone marrow.

Ten weeks ago, Weiss became the first person to undergo the stem cell infusion for treatment of Crohn's disease, a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the patient's digestive tract. On Monday, researchers at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital completed a second such treatment in another Crohn's patient. The second patient, reportedly a 16-year old male, has requested anonymity, says Richard Burt, MD, lead researcher in the pilot study. Burt says, however, that the second patient is doing well.

For years, Weiss did not know a single day without pain, the gut-wrenching pain caused by Crohn's disease. "Until I was 19 I could never get my weight up above 90 pounds," says the 22-year-old Weiss. Dairy foods, salad, fruit, nuts, fried foods -- all were dietary no-no's for Weiss, who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when she was 11.Over the years of treatment for the condition, Weiss suffered through as many as 10 daily attacks of painful diarrhea characterized by watery, bloody stools.Treating the Crohn's symptoms required the powerful steroid prednisone, which helped quiet the inflammation caused by the disease but also weakened other tissues in her body. Moreover, years of intestinal disease plus steroid therapy impaired her body's ability to absorb calcium, so she has developed osteoporosis, the bone-wasting disease normally associated with old age.     (this sounds like me to a T.  Not being able to get the disease under control, steroid treatment that has lead to osteoporosis, the dietary restrictions... all of it!)

Two years ago, Weiss' doctor began using IV tubes to deliver "night feeds so that I could get some nutrients." Her gastroenterologist recommended her for a colostomy, a procedure in which a large part of the colon is removed and the patient wears an external bag for waste. But after examining her, "my surgeon said that although my body was ready for a colostomy, I wasn't ready psychologically, so he said he would look for other alternatives."

The surgeon turned to the Internet, and there he found an article about Burt's proposal to treat Crohn's disease with an experimental procedure that required a stem cell transplant, using cells harvested from the patient's own bone marrow. This type of transplant is used to treat leukemia and other cancers.

Burt and his co-investigator Robert Craig, MD, had been waiting for about three years for the "right patient for this procedure," says Craig, a professor of medicine at Northwestern University Medical School.

The pilot study in which Weiss was the first patient will eventually include 10 Crohn's patients who have "failed all other accepted therapies," says Burt. Craig tells WebMD the patients not only "will have failed all other therapies, but they also must convince me that they are willing to take the risks associated with stem cell transplant."

Stem cell transplant is an experimental procedure that definitely carries its own risks. First, the cells are harvested from the patient's bone marrow, and then the patient is treated with powerful chemotherapy drugs, which are used to destroy the patient's immune system. After the immune system is destroyed, the patient's stem cells are injected back into the body and the patient is kept in a sterile environment for two weeks so that the "new" immune system can develop. During this time, any infection can pose fatal risks.

Because Crohn's disease is usually not fatal, some researchers are questioning the advisability of treating the disease with such a risky procedure.

In a statement released Thursday, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America said "We are not certain that the benefits of stem cell transplants in Crohn's disease patients outweigh the risks. ... Scientists have yet to determine whether stem cell transplant can initiate a long-term remission in people with Crohn's disease. In addition, the potential benefits of this therapy must be weighed against the risk of infection. While Crohn's patients have an altered immune system, researchers have not yet determined whether Crohn's can be qualified solely as an autoimmune disease. Until those questions are answered through carefully monitored, long-term clinical studies, stem cell transplant in Crohn's disease patients remains an investigational therapy."

Craig tells WebMD, "I agree with the CCFA. Believe me, a patient has to convince me that this is the absolute right thing for him or her." He says that he worries "about the possibility that I will lose a patient to this therapy."

The type of caution expressed by Craig is well placed, says Richard MacDermott, MD, head of gastroenterology and immunology at Albany Medical College in New York. "This is obviously a truly investigational procedure at the very beginning of the investigational ladder. It has a long, long way to go," MacDermott tells WebMD.

"I don't personally know the [rate of sickness and death] associated with stem cell transplant, but it has got to be significant," says MacDermott, who is a trustee of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.     (Now that over 10 years have passed since this article was 1st written, I wonder what they have found to be the answer to these questions???)

Burt says the procedure "wasn't done in a cavalier or relaxed manner -- the procedure was approved by the FDA." He says, too, that the chemotherapy used in his stem cell protocol is not as toxic as earlier stem cell transplant experiments. "The only complication that we had was a two-day fever," says Burt, who adds that tests done during that two-day period turned up no evidence of infection.

From her perspective, Weiss says she underwent two cycles of chemotherapy and neither was "as bad as my worst days with Crohn's." She says that she started feeling better "almost right away. All the pain didn't leave but it started getting better right away. This is the first time I have had a Crohn's remission in 11 years." (WOW)

Weiss spent about two and half months in Chicago undergoing pretreatment screening, treatment, and immediate follow-up. She is expected back in Chicago on Aug. 18 for a follow-up exam and then will return again at six months, nine months, and 12 months for follow-up. After 12 months, "I'll go back every year for five years," says Weiss. Craig says that it will take at least five years to confirm a true remission of disease.

Meanwhile, at her home in Mariaville, Maine, population 500, Weiss is enjoying the "first summer of my life." Always interested in horses, Weiss is anticipating applying to college to study "equine science. I have a mare here and now I am able to go out and walk the mare. It is a miracle."

http://www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/crohns-disease/news/20010810/first-patient-to-get-stem-cell-treatment-for-crohns-in-remission?page=3

Abbott's Humira -Sales for this Drug are in the BILLIONS! Crazy

I despise these pharm companies that supply Biologic medications.  Not only are they loaded with potential DANGEROUS side-effects, but they aren't even that effective and are super costly.  $2,000.- an infusion.


Abbott grossed 9 BILLION in annual Humira sales. 

Abbott's Humira set to become world's top-selling drug

Fatigue Associated with IBD

I'm so glad there is research being done on this.  How many of you can relate to me on the fatigue & the IBD issue?  Most of you can.  I really can't stand it...who wouldn' get sick of not having the stamina to do the things you used to do without getting tired and feeling like you need a break to rest.  This has got to be what old age feels like.... only thing is, I'm 33, not freaking 75.  This short article doesn't say much besides the fact that they will research more on this issue and that there is a significance between fatigue and IBD , even when the disease is not active.  

If you struggle with a low energy level, fatigue, and just feeling worn out by Crohn's or a digestive disease, what do you do to help yourself? I'm always looking for the answer to this question. 

Research into fatigue caused by Crohn's and colitis to be revealed

The early findings of the first national research project into fatigue caused by the inflammatory bowel diseases crohn's and colitis wll be outlined at watford General Hospital's Medical Education Centre at 2pm tomorrow.

The research - the first of it's kind - was funded by a half million pound Big Lottery Fund donation to Crohns and Colitis UK.

Findings will be delivered at the meeting by Wladzia Czuber-Dochan, a Research Fellow at Kings College London, for members of the Hemel Hempstead and Watford District Crohn’s and Colitis Group.

Research so far has shown that 86 per cent of patients with active disease suffer from fatigue and 36-41 per cent of patients still suffer even when in remission.

One sufferer, eddie Glatter, said: "Fatigue has had a big impact on the quality of my life.

"I have to pace myself and find some days I can’t do anything and other times I have to lie down and rest between activities." Anyone interested in finding out more about the research or the crohns and colitis is welcome to attend the meeting.

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/9660938.Research_into_fatigue_caused_by_Crohn_s_and_colitis_to_be_revealed/

Nanotechnology - Very Effective Technique Used To Detect IBD - Good Read!

Good Article about researchers at the University of Central FL that utilize a new nanoparticle based technique to discover pathogens responsible for the cause of IBD and other conditions.  Sounds promising to me.

Nanotechnology Used to Hunt for Hidden Pathogens | Product Design and Development

Recently Released Study: Blood Type May influence Risk to Infection w/ Rotavirus

Interesting article.  I just found out what my blood type is a few months ago. Prior to needing an iron infusion, I never had a clue what it was.  Figures it's the blood type w/ the increased risk of a stomach issue.  I always seem to fall into the category that is the not so fortunate people that has a higher chance of getting this illness or this infection... even although it'll be a small percentage of like 2% or something... It never fails.

Blood Type May Increase Risk of 'Stomach Bug' Infection

http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/2459-blood-type-rotavirus-infection-stomach-bug.html
 A person's blood type may influence their susceptibility to infection with rotavirus, a type of stomach bug, a new study suggests.

The results show that certain strains of rotavirus attach to cells by binding to "A antigen" — a marker on the surface of cells in people with blood types A and AB. The first step of infection is attachment to the cell.

People with these blood types have the “A antigen” not only on their blood cells, but also on the cells that line the gastrointestinal tract, which rotavirus attacks.

In addition, no one has looked at large populations to see whether those who are infected with rotavirus are more likely to have a certain blood type, Prasad said. Still, the new study could prompt this type of research, now that scientists are aware there might be a link, Prasad said.

This means its possible that people with blood types A and AB are more susceptible to rotavirus infections, but it's too soon to draw firm conclusions, said study researcher B. V. Venkataram Prasad, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. For one thing, the virus strains that were found to attach to A antigen are not the most common strains of rotavirus. It's possible the most common strains preferentially infect people with blood type B, for example.

Understanding more about how rotavirus interacts with human cells could lead to the development of drugs against the disease, or to improvements in rotavirus vaccines, Prasad said.

Rotavirus causes gastroenteritis, or inflammation of the stomach and intestines, and is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Until a vaccine against the virus was introduced in 2006, almost all babies were infected with the virus before they turned five years old, the CDC says.

In the study, the researchers found that cells engineered to express A antigen on their surfaces were easily infected by the rotavirus strain, whereas cells without the antigen were not easily infected. In addition, blocking the A antigen prevented infection with rotavirus in human intestinal cells, the researchers said.

Blood type is already known to determine susceptibility to infection with other pathogens, includingnorovirus and Helicobacter pylori.

The new study raises the question of whether blood groups arose in people as a way to counteract or evade infections from certain viruses and bacteria, Prasad said.

The study is published today (April 15) in the journal Nature.

Pass it on:  Blood type may determine susceptibility to rotavirus infection.

MAP Bacterium- Possible Cause of Crohn's. The Risk is High For Americas

I know... The gross and stomach turning articles I've been posting the past day are nasty! I am not searching for these; trust me.  I just happened to come across these and felt the need to let others know and become more aware about these issues that may be having negative effects on our health. 

This article discusses MAP, the resistant bacteria found in dairy products that is said to be a possible cause for inflammation.  Be sure to read the paragraph in bold.  It's rather disturbing, especially if you just had some ice cream or a glass of milk.  However, it's better to be in the know than to be clueless.   

I don't agree with the the next paragraph at all.  No.. we should not "manage symptoms".  There are ways of getting to the root problem and ridding our body of what's causing the negative reaction.  In regards to MAP, there is a way to test to see if this bacteria resides in your body.  There is also a medication that is able to get rid of the bacteria that was developed by an Australian company and is available here in the US. The medication is a combination of 3 antibiotics and it's said to be effective.  Find my other blog that discusses MAP for more information about the bacteria and the treatment available. 

Controlling inflammation helpful in warding off 

Crohn’s Disease

Published March 22nd, 2012

By Wendell Fowler

---

More than half a million uncomfortable American men, women and youngsters have incurable Crohn’s Disease. That’s the highest rate ever recorded.

Crohn’s is commonly diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 30, although people of all ages can suffer. The disorder causes GI inflammation between point A and B, but mostly the small intestine, where life-sustaining nutrients must get absorbed. Crohn’s limits absorption of nutrients, which may lead to anemia; ergo growing children may suffer delayed development for lack of nutrients. As swelling spreads, it causes pain, bleeding, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss, arthritis, skin problems and fever.

Scientists consider a protein produced by the immune system is a possible cause for inflammation. Our Holy Temple brims with cells and proteins defending us from infection. The immune system reacts abnormally and mistakes alien bacteria for invaders then attacks them. White blood cells and pus accumulate in the lining of the intestines, producing chronic inflammation and, bingo, ulcerations and bowel injury.

Evidence incriminates a bacterium, Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) in dairy products, transmitted via cow’s milk, as a cause of Crohn’s since MAP’s are detected in a large fraction of Crohn’s patients. The New York Times reports there’s growing clinical evidence cow pus/white blood cells cause Crohn’s in people who drink milk from infected cows. Why? Aggressive repeated milking causes sores on the exhausted, brown-eyed milker’s teats. Since transmission of this bacteria is aided by its presence in pus cells, American milk drinkers are at high risk since the U.S. has the highest permitted limit of milk pus cell concentration on earth —almost twice the international standard. By federal law, Grade A milk is allowed to have over a drop of pus per glass of milk. According to the USDA, 20 to 40 percent of U.S. dairy farms have sick cows. That milk is pooled with milk from healthy cows, resulting in a whole bunch of sick people. Not a pretty Oreo-dipped picture.

Manage symptoms with medication, proper diet and daily exercise. Wholesome nutrition is ginormous. People experiencing malnourishment require IV nutrition. Check with your physician and have a Spectracell test preformed.

Bypass foods that aggravate symptoms of Crohn’s disease and eat five or six small, well-balanced whole food meals a day. Sugar is toxic to the digestive lining and pretty much intolerable by those with irritated bowels. Sugar strips your innards of pro-biotic bacteria, and then replaces it with a charming overgrowth of bad bacteria. Sugar leads to a pH imbalance making it harder for the temple to heal.

Add omega-3 fatty acids from fish, flax and chia oil and walnuts to your diet. Avoid caffeine to prevent dehydration from diarrhea. Shun triggers like dairy products, spicy foods, fried foods, raw vegetables and fruit, and seek advice from a medical professional. You deserve to feel good with every breath you take.

More information is available at: http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/get-squeamish/

WHAT?? GROSS!! The Parasite D. Fragilis, That Infects Humans, Was Discovered In Piglets

Article:

Beware... You will recall this article everytime you go to eat that delicious piece of sausage.  Yes, this is rather disgusting!  Just looking at the picture & then reading this article from livescience.com, will definitely make me look at pork on a plate in a whole new way. Damn!  I liked to eat sausage sometimes!!! Grrr 

Human Diarrhea Parasite Found Lurking in Piglets

An intestinal parasite that causes diarrhea in humans also makes its home in pigs.

The existence of the single-celled parasite, Dientamoeba fragilis, in pigs is important, the researchers explain, because it might mean pig feces are one way the parasite has been spreading to humans. More than a billion pigs are housed in farms across the world.

In developed countries, D. fragilisinfection rates in people hover around 2 percent to 4 percent. But in developing countries where waste disposal is poor, infection rates of between 19 percent and 69 percent have been reported. Travelers to these countries also often fall prey to the parasite. Infection is sometimes asymptomatic, but it can also cause diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Few animal hosts, or "reservoirs," for D. fragilis had been discovered, researchers reported today (April 11) in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pigs in Italy, however, were reported as having high infection rates. So Italian scientists collected and analyzed 152 fecal samples from nine farms. They found that 52 of 74 piglets, 11 of 14 pigs at the "fattening" stage. and eight of 64 sows tested positive for D. fragilis. Young animals appeared to be most susceptible.

Furthermore, the analysis showed that the parasite found in pigs was the same one that infects humans. That means pigs could transmit the parasite to humans, likely through their waste.

The researchers noted that the discovery could be a boon to understanding D. fragilis. Little is known about the parasite's life cycle, and pigs could provide a useful model for understanding how transmission and infection occurs, the researchers said.

www.livescience.com link to article

IP-10 or MDX-1100 ---> NEW TREATMENT FOR ULCERATIVE COLITIS (IT MAY ACTUALLY BE A SAFE OPTION)! READ ARTICLE

Any article that discusses new treatments that are being developed and tried for IBD sufferers always increases my hope times 10.  It reassures me that SOMETHING SAFE will be developed eventually that is effective, non-toxic and possibly reasonable in cost.  

Treatment changing lives for people with Ulcerative Colitis

Article Highlights

" IP-10 or MDX-1100. It works by blocking a protein called chemokine so inflammation cannot occur. The drug has recently been filed with the FDA for approval. Preclinical studies demonstrate that antibodies targeting IP-10 neutralize the effects of IP-10 and decrease the appearance of the disease progression in animal models of ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. "

New Information: The Efficacy of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) in Treating Crohn's Disease

Click link to read article.  

Novel therapy discovered for Crohn's disease

Article Highlights

CLA is a naturally occurring acid found in meat and dairy products known for its anti-cancer and immune modulatory properties.

"In our recent open label study of CLA as a supplement in study subjects with mild to moderate CD there was a marked improvement in disease activity and quality of life in 50% of the subjects. CLA was well tolerated by all of the study subjects. These findings are very encouraging and will need to be verified in a randomized controlled trial," said Professor Kim L. Isaacs, a Professor of Gastroenterology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

CLA is an example of an anti-inflammatory compound in a pipeline of naturally occurring and synthetic compounds (e.g., abscisic acid, eleostearic acid, terephthalanilides) with tremendous therapeutic and prophylactic potential as anti-inflammatories," said Dr. Josep Bassaganya-Riera, a Professor of Immunology, principal investigator of this human clinical trial, and the Director of the NIMML and the Center for Modeling Immunity to Enteric Pathogens.