@sciencegeek
1) Sulfate is a derivative of Sulfur. 2) Hydrogen Sulfide smells like rotten eggs.... Many bacteria use sulfate as their principle source of sulfur. We (humans) also require sulfur to live and obtain it from our diets.
Many on here report an on-set of bad (smelly) clear the room kinda just farts prior to the on-set of a flare. Many studies suggest an excess or disproportionate amount of certain types of bacteria over others in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (dysbiosis) - especially during active disease.
It's the gasses released (as byproducts) from both our digestive activities and bacterial breakdown and digestion (metabolism) of the food we eat that is the source of these gasses.
Some of these byproducts are not so great for us - like Hydrogen sulfide which has been shown to harm the cells lining our colons. An excess of this would not be a good thing for us.
I guess you can perhaps think of it like this: Much like we breathe oxygen and exhale Carbon Dioxide, some types of bacteria (Sulfate Reducing Bacteria) breathe sulfate and exhale hydrogen sufide. This is called the dissimilatory pathway of anaerobic respiration.
Sooo an excess of these types SRB Sulfate Reducing Bacteria have been detected in those with IBD - especially active UC.
Rotten egg smelling farts like OM describes with his son just prior to the onset on his UC is a good example of the possibility of a dramatic increase in these types of bacteria that may have occurred. I personally experience this prior to a flare as well, but I have Crohn's-Colitis not Ulcerative Colitis.
Some studies question/implicate the role of these bacteria in IBD.
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Side Note:
It get's complex quickly cause sulfate reducers get divided into two categories so Group 1 and Group 2 Sulfate Reducers: Group One reduces sulfate and ultimately excrete Acetate when they grow using things like lactate, ethanol. But if I'm not mistaken both groups, depending on what they use for their carbon source can/do produce Hydrogen Sulfide.
Acetate is good for us - or for our epithelial cells or so it seems. It appears to reduce inflammation. Butyrate is also good for us and Pyruvate is as well - but again Hydrogen Sulfide is not.
Someone posted on here once that the cells that line our colons use Short Chain Fatty Acids in the following manner: Butyrate is the preferred energy source four our epithelial cells, and in the absence of butyrate, pyruvate or acetate is used.
Noting the above, in the absence of "Sulfate" many Sulfate Reducing Bacteria can ferment pyruvate to acetate or acetate and propionate. Both of these having protective effects I believe.
So maybe there is something going on where there is an increase in sulfate's and this changes things in our colon.... who knows.
The third paper shows some alternate sources of Hydrogen Sulfide aside from Sulfate Reducing Bacteria. Hydrogen Sulfide does however interfere with our colon's ability to utilize Butyrate.
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@UCSalayer - As far as inhibiting/killing Sulfate Reducing Bacteria I personally have not the darndes't clue....
Some report changing to a low sulfur/sulfate diet helped. I personally do quite well on high sulfur foods like eggs etc... others do as well, yet others get worse. So who knowns really....
Path and Old Mike or others on here might have some good ideas though.
Post Edited (Canada Mark) : 7/6/2014 12:19:44 PM (GMT-6)