Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common condition that includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. More than 50 million people suffer from it worldwide. In this article, we will discuss ulcerative colitis in particular and some natural approaches that can help improve health.
Ulcerative colitis occurs in both men and women, mostly between the ages of 15 and 35. However, sometimes it can occur even at the age of 60 years. Ulcerative colitis is considered an autoimmune disease and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and certain foods. There also appears to be a genetic component to this, possibly linked to chromosome 16.
Those with first-degree relatives (parents or siblings) with ulcerative colitis are 3 to 20 times more likely to have the disease than the general population. Although ulcerative colitis can occur in people of any ethnicity, Europeans and Ashkenazi Jews are at higher risk.
What is ulcerative colitis?
The clinical symptoms of ulcerative colitis include pain and bloating, rectal bleeding, and persistent inflammation of the colon. Since inflammation occurs on the surface of the colonic mucosa, the rectum is almost always affected.
Those who suffer from this disease often develop anemia due to chronic blood loss and iron deficiency. In addition, the absorption of vitamins and minerals may be impaired.
Risks associated with ulcerative colitis
Chronic anemia and fatigue, joint pain, and skin rash are common in patients with ulcerative colitis. People with this disease are also at an increased risk of developing colon cancer, so it is very important to have regular screening tests for colon cancer, such as a colonoscopy. Consult your doctor about this.
Common Treatments for Ulcerative Colitis
l Antidiarrheals
l Steroids
l Sulfasalazine and mesalamine
l Immunosuppressants (such as azathioprine, cyclosporine, and methotrexate)
Surgery (sometimes in severe cases, parts of the large intestine are removed surgically)
Natural Approaches to Treating Ulcerative Colitis
Eating habits play a significant role in overall health and in preventing flare-ups of ulcerative colitis. For example, avoiding sulfur-containing foods, including turkey, beef, milk, eggs, and cheese, may be beneficial for people with ulcerative colitis because these foods can increase the production of hydrogen sulfide by intestinal bacteria. Studies show that this gas increases the risk of exacerbation of ulcerative colitis.
The following supplements may also be helpful.
Probiotics
Probiotic supplements contain beneficial bacteria and can help repopulate the intestinal tract with them.
Certain lifestyle choices can quickly change the gut microbiome. For example, antibiotics, which are often used off-label, can destroy beneficial gut bacteria. In addition, chronic use of acid-reducing drugs can alter the gut microbiome by altering acid levels throughout the gut. People with ulcerative colitis and other digestive problems need to pay special attention to gut health.
A 2006 study concluded that "the probiotic strain Lactobacillus GG is effective and safe in maintaining remission in patients with ulcerative colitis and may represent a good therapeutic agent to prevent relapse in this patient population."
A 2016 study found that probiotic supplements containing lactobacilli and bifidobacteria may be beneficial for ulcerative colitis and may reduce the need for steroids. A 2019 study looking at the use of probiotics with bifidobacteria for ulcerative colitis also showed positive results from supplementation.
Recommended dosage: 5 to 100 billion units per day.
Prebiotics
Prebiotic foods help improve the gut microbiome by helping beneficial bacteria grow. An example is apples, asparagus, bananas, dandelion greens , flaxseeds , and other foods. They help stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria that produce fructans, which helps reduce inflammation in the gut in people with ulcerative colitis.
Omega-3 fatty acids
A 2011 study found that there was not enough scientific evidence to recommend omega-3 fatty acids for maintaining remission in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies worldwide. Low vitamin D levels have been linked to many diseases. In my practice in Southern California, four out of five of my patients were found to be vitamin D deficient in studies. I have been recommending vitamin D to most of my patients since 2007. Low vitamin D levels are associated with ulcerative colitis.
A 2019 study found that people with ulcerative colitis had lower blood levels of vitamin D, and those with the lowest levels had the most symptoms of the disease.
A 2014 study found that ulcerative colitis patients with higher blood levels of vitamin D had fewer symptoms than those with lower levels. Similarly, a 2018 study found that vitamin D supplementation was associated with a reduction in inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis.
Recommended dose: Most people need 1,000 to 5,000 IU of vitamin D per day.
Curcumin
In Indian culture, representatives of ancient Ayurvedic medicine recommended herbs and minerals as healing agents. Turmeric has been applied to the skin in the form of a paste to treat a variety of ailments. It has also been inhaled as a vapor in respiratory failure. Although clinical trials on the use of turmeric for this purpose are limited, modern Ayurvedic medicine nevertheless acknowledges that for the past 3,000 years, turmeric, as an unofficial healing agent, has alleviated the symptoms of diseases and continues to do so.
The use of turmeric, or Jiang Huang, in traditional Chinese medicine is associated with the effect attributed to it to move the energy of "qi", or the life energy of a person. In addition, people believed that turmeric improves blood circulation and relieves stomach pain. There are studies confirming that it can help with ulcerative colitis.
A 2017 study concluded that "... curcumin is able to induce and maintain remission in patients with ulcerative colitis without major side effects."
When evaluating the combined use of curcumin and the prescription drug mesalazine in 142 patients in a 2018 study, the combination resulted in higher remission rates than the prescription drug alone. However, no side effects were noted.
A 2019 study evaluated six randomized controlled trials involving 349 patients and found similar results. This study also confirmed the benefits of combined use of curcumin and mesalamine.
L-carnitine.
L-carnitine is an important compound in the human body, necessary for metabolism. About one in 350 people cannot synthesize it. However, some of those who are able to synthesize it may require more than the body can produce. This includes patients with ulcerative colitis.
A 2012 study assessed L-carnitine levels in people with ulcerative colitis. Study participants with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis activity saw improvement when they had a colonoscopy.
Glutamine
Glutamine is one of the most abundant free amino acids in the human body. It is responsible for many metabolic processes and is considered a "glucogenous" amino acid. This means that if your body needs extra glucose, it can convert glutamine to glucose and provide the body with the energy it needs. The intestines also need glutamine to maintain the "fuel" cells in the intestines.
A 2014 study found that glutamine supplements may be helpful for ulcerative colitis. Glutamine was also shown in a 2018 study to help reduce inflammation-causing metabolic pathways in people with ulcerative colitis.
Melatonin
Most people consider melatonin to be a sleep aid. However, the powerful antioxidant effects of melatonin may help those suffering from ulcerative colitis.
A 2011 study found melatonin to be beneficial for this condition. The researchers concluded that "melatonin has a dual effect of being an effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent and may be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of ulcerative colitis."
More recently, a 2018 study examined the effects of melatonin in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis. The results showed that the antioxidant properties of melatonin may help prevent the formation of colitis.
Other Findings
Other research suggests that N-acetyl-L-cysteine and barberine may also help control and possibly even prevent ulcerative colitis. In addition, patients with ulcerative colitis should consider taking fat-soluble vitamins - A , K and E - as they are poorly absorbed in this disease.
0 Comments