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Specific Carbohydrate Diet Case Series Published

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 7/25/2015 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
My name is Samir Kakodkar, MD, and I am currently a gastroenterology fellow in Illinois.
In case anyone was interested, I am very excited to inform you that I just published the largest case series of 50 IBD patients in remission following the SCD in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This can be found on the current issue of their journal (www.andjrnl.org/current) and the PDF is located here (www.andjrnl.org/article/S2212-2672(15)00504-3/pdf).
If you are curious regarding the details of how others are successfully implementing the diet, this paper is a worthy read.

Thank you.

Post Edited (SCD_Study) : 7/25/2015 10:32:25 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/25/2015 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
So basically you chose 50 IBD patients who were already following the SCD and in remission? There seems to be no actual evidence that it was the SCD which got them into remission in the first place, particularly as most of them were or still are on various medications.

I mean, I've been in remission for 2 and a half years on no meds and eating rubbish. It's not hard to find Crohn's patients who are in remission.
Posted 7/25/2015 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
That's not the intent of this paper. It's to show there exists a subset of patients with IBD (proven by endoscopy and pathology reports) who are maintaining clinical remission by implementing the SCD. This obviously is not proof that the diet is solely responsible; however, I have shown in previous published abstracts that SCd followers may have a more biodiverse microbiota. Many of the patients in this series were not taking any medications and some had been on immunosuppression in the past. I disagree with your statement that it's not hard to find Crohn's patients who are in remission, especially ones not taking medications for several months to years and not having surgeries in the interim. Thank you for your comments.
Posted 7/25/2015 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
Firstly, getting into remission is the hardest part. Once remission is obtained, then many Crohn's patients do enjoy long periods of remission. At any one time, about 50% of Crohn's patients are in remission. I'm not gonna get bogged down in anecdotes, but anecdotally I know of many people who are, or have been, in remission for several years (including my own brother and cousin with Crohn's).

Secondly, patients who go in for diets and supplements are frequently keen to promote the success of their personally chosen diet and downplay the role of their medication. I've seen that attitude time and time again on these boards. Point out to these folks they're on x med and they go into a lengthy spiel on why it's the diet which helped them and not x med. Many people have an ideological opposition to taking medication for life, particularly the immunesuppressants.

And finally... I've got to get to bed. Apologies if I've been a smartarse. I do appreciate that you're trying to help people.
Posted 7/26/2015 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
I agree that medications are essential in the management of IBD and my interest in diet is more for a supplementary role. I welcome your comments thank you.
Posted 7/28/2015 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Samir
Thank you for the study.
As a supplemental therapy I strongly agree that SCD or similar can be helpful esp. for those having trouble achieving remission with drugs alone.
Definitely worth a try.
There is usually no magic bullet and multiple approaches including drugs diet and stress reduction are all helpful
I feel it has helped me a lot although I am now paleo.
20 Years ago I did SCD and it helped me achieve remission for several years along with 5 mg PRED.
I had been unable to maintain remission on pred alone.
Unfortunately I forgot I had CROHNS and wandered off the diet. It is very hard to follow, actually I think it is impossible as most pills contain illegal starches and others sneak into our food unknowingly. One can never eat out these days on that diet. Even nuts are often coated with starches.
I am PALEO now.
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