Ulcerative colitis alternative treatments
|
Ulcerative colitis Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Ulcerative colitis alternative treatments On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Ulcerative colitis alternative treatments |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Ulcerative colitis alternative treatments |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Tarek Nafee, M.D. [2]
Overview
Limited evidence exists for the efficacy of alternative treatments for ulcerative colitis. Dietary modification, fish oil supplements, short chain fatty acid enema, herbal therapy, helminth therapy, probiotics, are the most common homepathic remedies used in ulcerative colitis. Data is lacking in regards to the efficacy of these therapies. Using these treatment modalities should not preclude physician-recommended, evidence-based interventions.
Alternative Treatments
Dietary modification
Dietary modification may reduce the symptoms of the disease.
- Lactose intolerance is noted in many ulcerative colitis patients. Those with suspicious symptoms should get a lactose breath hydrogen test.
- Patients with abdominal cramping or diarrhea may find relief or a reduction in symptoms by avoiding fresh fruits and vegetables, caffeine, carbonated drinks and sorbitol-containing foods.
- Many dietary approaches have purported to treat UC, including the Elaine Gottschall's specific carbohydrate diet and the "anti-fungal diet" (Holland/Kaufmann).
Fats and oils
Fish oil
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), derived from fish oil. This is an Eicosanoid that inhibits leukotriene activity. It is effective as an adjunct therapy. There is no recommended dosage for ulcerative colitis. Dosages of EPA of 180 to 1500 mg/day are recommended for other conditions.[1]
Short chain fatty acid (butyrate) enema
The colon utilizes butyrate from the contents of the intestine as an energy source. The amount of butyrate available decreases toward the rectum. Inadequate butyrate levels in the lower intestine have been suggested as a contributing factor for the disease. This might be addressed through butyrate enemas. The results however are not conclusive.
Herbals
- Herbal medications are used by patients with ulcerative colitis. Compounds that contain sulphydryl may have an effect in ulcerative colitis (under a similar hypothesis that the sulpha moiety of sulfasalazine may have activity in addition to the active 5-ASA component).[2] One randomized control trial evaluated the over-the-counter medication methionine-methyl sulphonium chloride (abbreviated MMSC, but more commonly referred to as Vitamin U) and found a significant decreased rate of relapse when the medication was used in conjunction with oral sulfasalazine.[3]
Bacterial recolonization
- Probiotics may have benefit. One study which looked at a probiotic known as VSL#3 has shown promise for people with ulcerative colitis.[4]
- Fecal bacteriotherapy involves the infusion of human probiotics through fecal enemas.[5] It suggests that the cause of ulcerative colitis may be a previous infection by a still unknown pathogen. This initial infection resolves itself naturally, but somehow causes an imbalance in the colonic bacterial flora, leading to a cycle of inflammation which can be broken by "recolonizing" the colon with bacteria from a healthy bowel. There have been several reported cases of patients who have remained in remission for up to 13 years.[6]
Intestinal parasites
Inflammatory bowel disease is less common in the developing world. Some have suggested that this may be because intestinal parasites are more common in underdeveloped countries. Some parasites are able to reduce the immune response of the intestine, an adaptation that helps the parasite colonize the intestine. The decrease in immune response could reduce or eliminate the inflammatory bowel disease
Helminthic therapy using the whipworm Trichuris suis has been shown in a randomized control trial from Iowa to show benefit in patients with ulcerative colitis. The therapy tests the hygiene hypothesis which argues that the absence of helminths in the colons of patients in the developed world may lead to inflammation. Both helminthic therapy and fecal bacteriotherapy induce a characteristic Th2 white cell response in the diseased areas, which is somewhat paradoxical given that ulcerative colitis immunology was thought to classically involve Th2 overproduction[7]
Nicotine
It has been shown that smokers on a dose-based schedule have their ulcerative colitis symptoms effectively reduced by cigarettes. The effect disappears if the user quits.
References
- ↑ "Fish oil: MedlinePlus Supplements".
- ↑ Brzezinski A, Rankin G, Seidner D, Lashner B. "Use of old and new oral 5-aminosalicylic acid formulations in inflammatory bowel disease". Cleve Clin J Med. 62 (5): 317–23. PMID 7586488.
- ↑ Salim A (1992). "Role of sulphydryl-containing agents in the management of recurrent attacks of ulcerative colitis. A new approach". Pharmacology. 45 (6): 307–18. PMID 1362613.
- ↑ Bibiloni R, Fedorak RN, Tannock GW, Madsen KL, Gionchetti P, Campieri M, De Simone C, Sartor RB. VSL#3 probiotic-mixture induces remission in patients with active ulcerative colitis. Am J Gastroenterol 2005 Jul;100(7):1539-46. PMID 15984978.VSL#3 company site
- ↑ Borody TJ, Warren EF, Leis SM, Surace R, Ashman O, Siarakas S. Bacteriotherapy using fecal flora: toying with human motions. J Clin Gastroenterol 2004;38:475-83. PMID 15220681.Fulltext(PDF)
- ↑ Borody TJ, Warren EF, Leis S, Surace R, Ashman O. Treatment of ulcerative colitis using fecal bacteriotherapy. J Clin Gastroenterol 2003;37:42-7. PMID 12811208.Fulltext(PDF)
- ↑ Summers RW, Elliott DE, Urban JF Jr, Thompson RA, Weinstock JV. Trichuris suis therapy for active ulcerative colitis: a randomized controlled trial. Gastroenterology 2005;128:825-32. PMID 15825065.