We have long been familiar with
the concept of "good" and "bad" cholesterol in
heart health. Well, it turns out that having enough
good, or "friendly," bacteria (versus the "bad" kind)
is an important part of digestive health. This was shown
in a recent study from the University of Dundee in Scotland,
where researchers almost reversed symptoms of ulcerative
colitis after giving patients a probiotic (a bacterial
strain developed from the stomach linings of healthy people).
The probiotic used in the study contained several million
more bacteria than typically are found in such probiotic-
rich foods as yogurt.
Researchers found that the digestive
linings, particularly those of the large intestine,
of healthy people contained 30 times the amount of a
specific probiotic bacterium (a friendly bacteria that
has anti-inflammatory effects) than is found in people
with colitis. Eighteen people suffering from colitis
received the probiotic. Elizabeth Furrie, PhD, lead
author of the study to be published in the journal Gut,
said that in molecular and clinical tests, many symptoms
associated with colitis were reduced to near normal levels
in study participants.
Why is this study important?
"This study, although small, is
important because it is the first time a teaching
university has looked at the effects of human-compatible
bacterial flora on gut health," says Daily Health News
contributing editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND.
The important thing here is the key
phrase human-compatible. The friendly bacteria that we
seek when we buy yogurt at the supermarket or health-food
store does contain bacterial flora. It is produced from a
cow's belly. Humans are different from cattle, explains Dr.
Rubman. About half the people consuming commercial yogurt
will be helped by it and half won't. Why?
The Human Compatibility Factor
Let's say you drink the milk of another
species (for example, a cow) on a regular basis, says Dr.
Rubman. Chances are that the microenvironment in your large
intestine will modify itself to allow these foreign substances
to mutate into more human-compatible strains. Similarly,
bacteria from a cow's gut (which, as mentioned above, is
found in commercial yogurt) also will usually adapt to their
host environment.
For optimal gut health, we should be
getting human-compatible strains of friendly bacteria. Dr.
Rubman recommends a product called HLC, which contains a
human-compatible strain. HLC is manufactured by Pharmax,
a company in Washington state.
Only Part of the Picture
Although the results from the Scottish
study are good news for colitis patients, getting human-compatible
friendly bacteria is only a part of the picture in treating
ulcerative colitis. Don't assume that people with ulcerative
colitis are necessarily going to get better simply by adding
human-compatible bacteria to their diets, says Dr. Rubman.
This should be part of an integrated regimen, and it makes
sense to be under the care of a health professional who
knows how to manipulate the various components of the
regimen for each patient individually.
In conventional medical treatment
of ulcerative colitis, patients usually take corticosteroids
to suppress inflammation. Although they are effective at
controlling inflammation, corticosteroids have many health
risks -- and they do not inhibit the yeasts, mold and fungi
that may contribute to the colitis. "If a patient is
well-controlled on medication," says Dr. Rubman, "I would
not remove it. Natural interventions need to be added in
a way that will support the present drug regimen yet
ultimately allow for the person to get off drugs."
Individualizing Colitis Treatment
The first step in colitis treatment
is to provide a stabilizing environment in the gut.
This will allow it to optimally resist inflammatory
challenges, which cause the lining in the gut to become
swollen and less functional, says Dr. Rubman. In order
to do this, it is necessary to find out what is going on
with the patient. Are there problems with digestion or
problems in absorbing food? Does the individual have
parasites in the gut? Armed with specific information,
each patient's condition can be assessed individually.
Nutrition Notes for Ulcerative Colitis
As always, nutrition plays an enormous
role in ongoing health and in the treatment of specific
conditions. Here are the basics for people with
ulcerative colitis...
Avoid dairy protein. Dr. Rubman
is adamant that those with ulcerative colitis should
avoid consuming dairy protein or wheat gluten --
including organic milk or stone-ground wheat flour.
All dairy protein can cause some degree of
inflammation in the gut.
Eat the "good" fiber. Sources
include whole grains, fruit and vegetables. Insoluble
fiber, such as bran, add bulk and absorptive properties
to the food that passes through.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
For ease in digestion, Dr. Rubman suggests making
everything into a soup. Think "smoother and softer"
for all fruits and vegetables. This is the chance to
get creative with a blender or food processor. Be
sure to chew everything thoroughly. Remember to
always mix blended foods with enough saliva to swallow.
Cooked is better than raw for colitis sufferers.
Eat complex carbohydrates.
These feed healthy flora in the gut. As the healthy
flora proliferate, they naturally will suppress
many unhealthy flora. Beans, nuts and seeds are
good sources of complex carbohydrates. Dr. Rubman
says that contrary to conventional wisdom, people
who have ulcerative colitis do not have to avoid
nuts and seeds. In fact, they may be quite beneficial.
They just have to chew them thoroughly. Remember,
all digestion begins in the mouth -- so make the
most of it.
Sources...
Elizabeth Furrie, PhD, research
fellow, University of Dundee, Scotland. Andrew L.
Rubman, ND, medical director of Southbury Clinic for
Traditional Medicines in Connecticut and adjunct
professor of medicine at I.W. Lane College of
Integrative Medicine in Winter Park, Florida.
