Crohn's Disease through Milk?

Researchers believe that Crohn’s disease, a bowel disorder that causes inflammation of the intestine leading to diarrhea, pain, weight loss and fatigue, may be caused by a type of bacteria that is passed to humans through milk.

The bacteria, mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP), was found in some 92 percent of patients with Crohn’s disease, compared to only 26 percent of patients in a control group. MAP is present in about two percent of commercial pasteurized milk.

As a solution, researchers recommend that people with Crohn’s disease, or those who feel at risk, drink UHT milk, which is pasteurized at higher temperatures that likely kill MAP.

The bacteria may also be associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to researchers.

Journal Clinical Microbiology July 2003l;41(7):2915-23

Possible Causes of IBS and Diagnosis

The most common symptoms of IBS include periodic bouts of abdominal pain accompanied by diarrhea, constipation, or both. Flatulence, belching, and bloating may also occur. The episodes may subside with a bowel movement. However, IBS patients may pass only a small amount of stool that may or may not contain mucus, and they may continue to feel an urgent need to defecate. IBS is often divided into two major variants:

1. Diarrhea-predominant IBS: three to seven bowel movements per day; loose, watery stools; and fecal urgency. One or more of these symptoms must be present.


2. Constipation-predominant IBS: fewer than three bowel movements per week; hard or lumpy stools; and straining during bowel movements. One of more of these symptoms must be present.

People with IBS appear to have hypersensitive nerves within the large intestine. Under certain conditions (such as stress or consumption of certain foods), the normal passage of stool and gas may cause pain. Research has suggested that IBS patients have extra sensitive pain receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, which may be related to an abnormal level of serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating digestion and mood. Their level of serotonin may help explain why people with IBS are likely to be anxious or depressed (Kasper DL et al 2005).

Other significant factors implicated in IBS include recent infection within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which can disturb the digestive flora necessary to help break down remaining nutrients in the colon (De Schryver AM et al 2000; Talley NJ et al 2002). Research has shown that in rare cases, IBS has developed following salmonella or Campylobacter pylori infections.

The diagnosis of IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning that all other possible diseases must be ruled out before a physician arrives at the diagnosis of IBS. Typically, the diagnosis begins with a medical history, including questions about the duration, severity, and characteristics of symptoms. The physician will ask about diet, stress, any medications currently being taken, and changes in bowel function. Most people with IBS have mild symptoms.

Laboratory tests, including complete blood count, thyroid function, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and urinalysis, may be done to rule out other potential causes. Depending on symptoms, additional testing may include a lactose tolerance test and a check for the presence of blood, bacteria, and parasites in feces (NIDDK 2006).

The colon may be examined with flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. If indicated, a biopsy from the colon can be performed. A colonoscopy is indicated when an individual is anemic or has lost weight or if polyps are found. However, in IBS the large intestine appears normal (NIDDK 2006; Lindor KD et al 2005).

A diagnosis of IBS may be made if patients have had abdominal pain or discomfort for at least 12 weeks, not necessarily consecutively, during the past year and if:

• The onset of pain corresponds to a change in the regularity of bowel movements


• The passage of stool relieves the pain


• The onset of pain corresponds to a change in the appearance of stool

Dietary recommendations include:

L-glutamine. L-glutamine is the most common amino acid in the blood and is important in maintaining strength and boosting the immune system. Under normal circumstances, dietary intake and production of L-glutamine are sufficient. However, in times of stress or increased energy output, tissues need more L-glutamine than usual. A lack can lead to improper absorption of nutrients and a depressed immune system (Roth E et al 1996; van der Hulst RR et al 1996). Nutrition and intestinal function are intimately related; consequently, chronic GI diseases such as IBS often result in malnutrition. Glutamine has protective and reparative effects on the colon and bowel (Ziegler TR et al 2000).

Aloe mucilaginous polysaccharides (AMP). Aloe mucilaginous polysaccharides are long chain sugar molecules composed of individual mannose and glucose sugar molecules connected together. The AMP molecule is but one of the approximate 200 ingredients found in the Aloe vera plant. However, the mucilaginous polysaccharide is the sole ingredient responsible for all the healing properties attributed to Aloe. Reduces inflammation which is involved in such diseases as ulcerative colitis, IBS and other gastrointestinal disorders.

Digestive disorders

Intestinal problems are one of the main health issues plaguing our society. They are very common and if you were to ask around, chances are that everyone would have suffered from at least one digestive problem sometime in one's life.

Symptoms include bloating, belching, flatulence, indigestion, heartburn, gastritis, diarrhea, colitis, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome and constipation due to factors such as improper dietary intake, illnesses, stress, infections and sensitivity to certain food.

Taking care of your diet is an important step in ensuring a healthy digestive system. It is advisable to increase your intake of vegetables and fruits in your existing diet.

Many constipated people find relief in merely modifying their diet to reduce refined carbohydrates such as white flour, white sugar, white bread, noodles and white rice and increasing fiber intake.

According to the American Dietetic Association, it is recommended that we take about 25 to 35 grammes of fiber daily. It is beneficial in regulating bowel movements and adding bulk to the feces. Regular bowel movements are essential in aiding the body in eliminating toxins, and thus improve intestinal health. You may achieve this by consuming a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains. Having regular meal times helps to minimize excessive stomach acid production at any one time and is also good for preventing heartburn and gastric problems.Excessive gas in the intestines can also be prevented by reducing certain gas-forming food such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, onions and legumes.This is because they contain indigestible sugars that will be broken down by intestinal bacteria to produce gases such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and methane. Avoiding carbonated beverages may also be beneficial. Some people may not realize that the intestinal symptoms they are suffering from may be due to food intolerance.Try eliminating milk and dairy products for a few days. If you notice an improvement, you may be lactose intolerant. You can minimize its effects by eating dairy products in small portions with other food or by selecting lactose-free products.

However, some people may have underlying problems that lead to intestinal symptoms such as celiac (a condition that hinders normal digestion), gastritis (inflammation of the intestinal tract) and diverticular diseases (inflammation of the large bowel, which pushes the muscular layer to form pouches, where food can be trapped in these pouches, causing infection).

Diverticular diseases may be due to the ageing process and a diet low in fiber.

Nutritious food plays an important role in improving health, but consuming them without proper care regarding its cleanliness may cause food poisoning, leading to infections. Food poisoning will often produce similar symptoms as indigestion, accompanied by fever, vomiting and nausea. Therefore, watch what you eat and drink when travelling to areas where sanitation is poor and disease rates are high.

Stress management is also important because nervous people tend to swallow a lot of air, resulting in build-up of excess gases in the digestive tract. Exercise is also recommended to keep the bowels moving normally and helps reduce stress.

Natural remedy to consider: Aloe Mucilaginous Polysaccharides from Serovera®

Allergy Disorders Linked w/ IBS

Study also found IBS 2 times more likely in people with depression.

There may be a link between allergies and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults, says a study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

IBS occurs in about 15 percent of the U.S. population. Some studies have suggested that allergen exposure may lead to IBS symptoms in some patients, but the frequency hadn't been examined.

In this study, researchers looked at 125 adults and found the likelihood of IBS was much higher in patients with allergic eczema (3.85 times) and seasonal allergic rhinitis (2.67) times. They also found that IBS was 2.56 times more likely in people with depression.

"The reported presence of allergic dermatitis was highly correlated to the presence of IBS in our population," the study authors wrote. "In atopic disease, allergic dermatitis is the first step of the 'atopic' march.' In early childhood, AE (allergic eczema) is frequently associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction and food allergy. A clinical history of AE may be a useful marker for patients with gut hypersensitivity and atopic IBS."

The researchers also found that asthma and IBS were reported by 12 of 41 patients (29 percent), similar to findings in a previous study. The researchers proposed that "this subgroup of IBS (atopic IBS) be considered separately from patients with IBS without atopic symptoms, because they may have distinct pathophysiologic features and may benefit from specific therapeutic interventions."

The study was published recently in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

More information

Visit serovera.com for detailed information about IBS.

SOURCE; American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, news release, January 2008

Common Side Effects of Prescription IBS Drugs

The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) and it's members sponsored a quantitative research study among U.S. adults from their patient database. All respondents (350) reported having an IBS diagnosis and participated in the survey.

Research shows that participants are dissatisfied with their medications. Fewer than one-third of these IBS sufferers reported satisfaction with the drugs and remedies they currently use to treat their IBS symptoms. Less than half (45%) of respondents described the prescription drugs they currently use as "effective." Prescription medications were rated as “not effective”
by 22% of those who currently take them and 33% describe prescription drugs as only “somewhat effective” in treating IBS symptoms.

Of those taking prescription drugs, 62% report side effects. Almost half (45%) reported the side effects as severe or moderate. The most frequently cited side effects of current prescription
drugs were dry mouth (mentioned by a full one-third of those currently using prescription drugs) and drowsiness (mentioned by one-quarter).

Those respondents reporting side effects also reported adverse events.

• 12% had to visit an ER
• 7% were hospitalized
• 29% had to call their health care provider and 24% had to visit their health care provider.
• 22% had to stop driving
• 18% reported missing work or school

Over the years, thousands of people have found IBS relief with SEROVERA without adverse or nasty side effects. Contact us for more information, assistance, support or visit our website to learn all you can about Irritable Bowel Syndrome and how it can be kept at bay.

Gut Bacteria and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Bacteria are present in the normal gut (intestines) and in large numbers the lower parts of the intestine. They achieve concentrations of several billion in the colon. These "normal' bacteria have important function in life:

• They protect against infection by "bad", or pathogenic, bacteria
• They help the immune system of the gut to develop
• They produce a variety of substances, including some essential vitamins, that have an important nutritional value

Together, the normal bacteria are often referred to as the gut flora. A variety of factors may disturb the mutually beneficial relationship between the flora and its host, and disease may result. For example, temporarily suppressing the normal flora in the colon can be a side effect experienced by a susceptible person after taking a course of antibiotics to treat an infection. This then provides the opportunity for bacteria that can cause disease to take hold.

Many consider a different disturbance in the interaction between the flora and the host to be the fundamental cause of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. In these instances, the type or quantity of bacteria in the gut may not be abnormal' Instead of peaceful and mutually beneficial coexistence, the host responds to the normal bacteria as if they were disease causing. The result is intense inflammation.

Do Bacteria Play a Role in IBS?

The possibility that gut bacteria could have a role in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may surprise some; there is indeed, now quite substantial evidence to support the idea that disturbances in the bacteria that populate the intestine may have a role in at least some patients with IBS. What is this evidence? It can be summarized as follows:

1. Surveys which found that antibiotic use, well known to disturb the flora, may predispose individuals to IBS,
2. The observation that some individuals may develop IBS suddenly, and for the first time, following an episode of stomach or intestinal infection (gastroenteritis) caused by bacterial infection,
3. Recent evidence that a very low level of inflammation may be present in the bowel wall of some IBS patients, a degree of inflammation that could well have resulted from an abnormal interaction with bacteria in the gut,
4. The suggestion that at IBS may be associated with the abnormal presence, in the small intestine, of types and numbers of bacteria that are normally found only in the large intestine: a condition termed small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO),
5. Accumulating evidence to indicate that altering the bacteria in the gut, by antibiotics or probiotics, may improve symptoms in IBS'