gut bacteria as a cause

Hello all,

New article on The Economist about how imbalance of gut bacteria in the west contributes to IBD, Crohns and allergies.
If you add intestinal parasites to the mix it would be more potent still i think

and also of course you can add Ulcerative Colitis and MS to the list of disorders affected ... autoimmune, inflammatory...

http://www.economist.com/node/16740669


read the comments section its got some extra links

the article focuses on diet but forgets the most potent gut flora re-organiser: antibiotics.

I just skimmed a book at the library called something like what your dr will not tell you about childhood vaccinations. In it, it talks about the possible connection between IBD and the MMR vaccination (measles, mumps, rubella).... interesting...

Zippy, I agree with you completely. My wake up call about probiotics, over antibiotic use and gut flora came when I got C-Diff after being on antibiotics for lyme disease for a year and a half. I then learned how C-Diff develops from antibiotics killing off the good stuff then how probiotics aid in not only the recovery of that condition, but how having proper guy balance is the most critical factor in immunity from disease and the eradication of even something simple like allergies.

I then started to look at the foods I was eating and realized that canned beef stew, antibiotic laden chicken, french fries, hamburgers and MSG filled greasy chinese food and soda 3x + a day (my diet from birth - 25 years old lol) was not helping my intestinal flora, immunity or health and in fact, possibly setting me up for a range of diseases like cancer, IBS, UC or something else.

After my C-Diff, I took (and continue to take) probiotics for about about 2 years now. I ate prebiotic foods often, like legumes and whole wheats etc. It's very ironic that after two years of this healthier living after my C-Diff, the doctor I have thinks I developed UC last month (while the doctor who did my colonoscopy thinks not). I will see what kind of second opinion I get, but if I do have UC I guess I just started this way of life way to late. 25 years of eating pure garbage and taking antibiotics like they were going out of style thanks to over prescribing doctors and my lack of knowledge (I was literally on them multiple times a year for probably 10 years straight at one point of my life for sinus infections and stupid things) might have been to much.

This is a really interesting topic. A topic that will continue to get a lot of attention from the scientific community. It is largely known that there are a group of diseases which are considered "Western" diseases and may be linked heavily to dietary choices. An interesting issue to consider as well is not only the impact of the western diet in its contribution to the development of inflammatory diseases (like UC) but also the widespread use of antibiotics by the medical community. UC is virtually unseen in third world countries where access to western medicine and the overabundant usage of antibiotics is not seen. Not only are we seeing the development of antiobiotic resistant bacteria that have developed robust resistance to antiobiotics due to overuse but we are likely seeing the indirect effects of diseases caused by altered gut flora. This is the second Economist article that has mentioned this issue and I suspect there will be more to come which bodes well for the future of this disease and the development of "cures" or sustained remissions using appropriate probiotic therapy.

34 yo male. UC in remission

In remission with VSL#3 DS, SCDiet. Remicade/SCD brought into remission, sustained with VSL#3/SCDiet. Failed prednisone/lialda/asacol/colazal/Cimzia/Low dose naltrexone/Developed antiboidies to Remicade

mudua, I have never observed any link between McDonalds and UC.

But many people *have* observed a link between long-term antibiotic use and UC being triggered.

Also in gut bacteria balance and UC, and parasites and UC such as worms.

I agree - this is the camp i am in. I was prescribed a lifetime of drugs and I've never had to take a single tablet thanks to probiotics, which I no longer take either.

Post Edited (Queen of the Colon) : 8/27/2010 7:43:04 PM (GMT-6)