Re: Fiber and fish reduce colon cancer occurrence
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-07/uoa-bh072505.php
A mixture of bacteria developed in part by University of Alberta
researchers has been proven highly effective in treating people
suffering from ulcerative colitis.
The findings, published in the July, 2005 issue of American Journal of
Gastroenterology showed that the majority of patients taking a
probiotic mixture of 8 bacteria (VSL#3) for 6 weeks improved their
ulcerative colitis. Probiotics are preparations of living microbial
cells that, when ingested, are thought to positively influence the
composition of microbes in the gut and improve the health of the
intestine.
While "bad" bacteria have been flagged as potential culprits in the
cause of inflammatory diseases of the bowel, in this case, the
ingestion of supplemental "good" bacteria (probiotics) to the intestine
proved beneficial in treating ulcerative colitis, said Dr. Richard
Fedorak, a professor of gastroenterology at the University of Alberta.
The joint study included researchers from the University of Bologna in
Italy and the University of North Carolina.
In this open label clinical trial, 86 per cent of those treated with
probiotic bacteria mixture VSL#3 experienced relief of their mild to
moderate ulcerative colitis. The mixture of eight lactic acid bacterial
species is believed to be effective by mechanisms that include (1)
reducing the number of "bad" bacteria, (2) reducing the amount of
inflammation (3) increasing the mucus layer in the gut, and (4)
increasing the amount of anti-inflammatory molecules in the intestine.
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the
large intestine (colon) and causes acute bloody diarrhea, sever stomach
pain, urgency, anemia and fatigue. In its most severe form, ulcerative
colitis that does not respond to medical treatment will require
surgical removal of the colon.
The VSL#3 was administered over a six-week period to 30 patients who
ranged in age from 18 to 65. Remission of the colitis was achieved in
63 per cent of the patients, while another 23 per cent responded with
improvement in their symptoms and with healing of the colon's lining.
There were no adverse effects to the medication.
The VSL#3 can be considered an important potential treatment for those
patients who don't respond to conventional therapy such as mesalamine
or 5ASA, Dr. Fedorak said.
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THE INSOLUBLE FIBER IN THE VITAMIN E ENEMA PROCEDURE DIET PROVIDES THE PROPER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE GROWTH OF "GOOD" BACTERIA.