Gastrointestinal Health
CASE STUDY: Melatonin for Reflux Disease
In this second part of a special report on alternatives to proton pump inhibitors, Today’s Practitioner explores the science behind melatonin for reflux disease. As the use of PPIs comes in questions for some, there are a number of integrative care doctors seeking alternatives. Long before FDA issued warnings aboutRead
5 Steps to Reset Your Microbiota for 2023
The holiday season may be the most joyous time of the year, but all the feasting, partying, and stress that can accompany it are not so merry for your stomach. The trillions of beneficial bacteria and other microbes in your digestive tract (collectively known as your gastrointestinal microbiota) are sensitiveRead
Does Fiber Make IBD Worse?
Eat more fiber — patients with irritable bowel disease (IBD) hear it all the time from well-meaning experts. But what if that advice is wrong, or even harmful? According to a new study in Gastroenterology, certain types of fiber can cause inflammation in people with IBD, actually making symptoms worse.Read
Celiac Disease Up to Nine-Times More Common in Young People Exposed to Everday Chemical Pollutant
Celiac disease is linked to common chemical pollutants, according to the NYU Langone Health, NYU School of Medicine. Elevated blood levels of toxic chemicals found in pesticides, nonstick cookware, and fire retardants have been tied to an increased risk for celiac disease in young people, new research shows. For theRead
Which Diet Is Best for IBS?
Three popular IBS diets went head-to-head in a recent British study from Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology — low-FODMAP (LFD), gluten-free (GFD), and traditional dietary advice (TDA). Researchers were surprised to discover that all three eating plans reduced symptoms by roughly 50% among subjects suffering from non-constipated irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Read
Is Glycyrrhizin an Ideal Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis?
Glycyrrhizin (GL), a bioactive triterpenoid saponin, provides anti-inflammatory benefits for those with ulcerative colitis (UC), according to a new study from the Journal of Functional Foods. The herbal extract was also shown to help ease side effects from prescription medications for UC (e.g., sulfasalazine, mesalazine). The authors caution, however, thatRead
Leaky Gut and IBS: Is There a Connection?
Leaky gut syndrome might sound like something from a science fiction movie, but it’s a real condition that affects your digestive tract. Leaky gut is another term for intestinal permeability. It’s known to play a role in IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) symptoms and is a potential root cause of IBS.Read
Inflammasomes Linked to Obesity-related Colon Cancer
Dysregulation of inflammasomes could be a significant factor in the development of obesity-associated colon cancer, according to new research presented at this year’s European Congress on Obesity (held online, 10-13 May). When this part of the innate immune system, which provides the first line of defense against pathogens, is exposedRead
Lab Study: High-fiber Short Chain Fatty Acids May Control COVID-19 Related Gut Tissue Inflammation
A study conducted at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, shows that compounds produced by gut microbiota (bacteria and other microorganisms) during fermentation of insoluble fiber from dietary plant matter do not affect the ability of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 to enter and replicateRead
Clostridioides Difficile Infection Thrives in Popular High-protein, High-fat Diets
Diets like the Keto, Paleo and Atkins focus on high-fat, high-protein meals that are often low in carbohydrates. This mix may appeal to Clostridioides difficile bacteria, too. In a new study published this in mSystems, an open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, researchers report that mice fed aRead
