Nutritional Medicine for Crohn’s Disease

Treating children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) usually involves the same steroids-based medication prescribed to adults. But such treatments can have negative side effects for kids and teens dealing with IBD.

Dr. Raanan Shamir of Tel Aviv University's Sackler School of Medicine and Schneider Children's Medical Centre shows that there is another path to treating IBD in children: a nutritional formula that was first developed for astronauts. This supplement puts 60-70% of children with Crohn's disease, a common IBD disorder, into remission — a success rate similar to that of traditional steroid-based drugs, but without side effects like malnutrition and growth retardation.

Eating Like an Astronaut

Dr. Shamir's research was inspired by the problem of malnutrition and growth retardation in children battling IBD. Steroids and other biological agents, the most common treatment for IBD, were having an adverse affect on the children's growth. It was a problem first tackled by NASA: How could astronauts most efficiently get their daily nutrients? The answer was a specially-designed powder that contains all the daily nutrients a person needs.

A similar concept works wonders for children suffering from IBD. "Prepared powder, with liquids, gives you all the nutritional requirements you need for the day," Dr. Shamir explains. "We don't know why these formulas work, and nobody has shown that any one formula is preferable to another. People have to be committed and eat nothing else during the period of time they are on nutrition therapy, and it is difficult to do — but if they do it, they go into remission."

To induce remission, children need to be on nutrition therapy for 6-8 weeks. And in order to maintain remission, 25-50% of their caloric intake must be supplied by nutrition therapy, sometimes for years. This is why children experiencing the treatment need the support of physicians, dieticians, psychologists, and of course their families.

Dr. Shamir's quest to educate the international medical community about the benefits of nutrition therapy has been an uphill battle. "The acceptance of this is difficult," he says. "You have to persuade the family. Not all physicians know it works, and it's much easier to give someone a prescription than try to work with the child."

A Replacement for Steroids

Dr. Shamir and his team of researchers have worked to show the international medical community that nutrition was equal to steroids in the treatment of children with IBD. "We published the most recent meta-analysis to show that nutrition is as good as steroids as a first-line therapy for Crohn's disease," he says. The next step in his research, says Dr. Shamir, is to "define exactly the role of nutrition in inducing remission in these patients, and the role of nutrition in maintaining remission."

Source: www.sciencedaily.com
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Previous Comments

Anonymous commented on 21-Aug-2009 03:53 AM1 out of 5 stars
Nobody like's a tease very much!
I do enjoy the sciencedaily updates, however steroids didn't heal the adults, it just provided quick relief. The opinions in this link is just that. Nutrition has always been more successful in treating GI issues outside of bacterial infections. Crappy study! "In adults, studies have shown that steroids are more effective in the battle against IBD than nutrition-based therapies. I think it is easier to get compliance from children, especially when it involves their growth. For adults, growth is not a concern — they just want to feel better," explains Dr. Shamir.
Lisa Szablowski commented on 21-Aug-2009 09:39 AM5 out of 5 stars
I SUFFERED with Crohn's disease for 25 years having four colon resections, remicade, steroids, pain etc etc....Three years ago I started on a specific nutritional supplement and I have been SYMPTOM free and MEDICATION free for 3 years!
Allen commented on 23-Aug-2009 08:58 AM4 out of 5 stars
So how would one go about getting one of these formulas? Is it just a matter of talking to your doctor? I don't see any mention in this article of where to get the treatment. Also, Lisa if you don't mind me asking - what supplement have you been taking? I've had ulcerative colitis for a few years now and have tried different supplements. Aloe seems to be the most effective.
Nancy Parlette commented on 24-Aug-2009 07:44 AM5 out of 5 stars
My understanding has been that most people with this problem have leaky gut and the powdered supplement finally allow the body to get nutrients they need so that helps a lot. The other thing is to cut out inflammatory foods from the diet. Not always easy. Plus take proteolytic enzymes which REALLY help heal the gut.
Mrs. Miniver commented on 25-Aug-2009 01:44 AM5 out of 5 stars
Google the word "Zonulin" and you will find Dr. Fasano's research on gluten's direct effect on intestinal permeability (leaky gut). Gluten causes "tight junction dysfunction" and is responsible for triggering any number of autoimmune diseases, the body's response to "invading foreigners." Going gluten-free is the answer for many - and there are no side effects! It also will make you very conscious of what you are ingesting.
Noah commented on 31-Aug-2009 06:49 PM5 out of 5 stars
I was diagnosed with severe Ulcerative Colitis (pancolitis). I was hosipitalized for 5 days, and was having 10-20 bloody BM's a day. After viewing the colonoscopy the GI told me that I had one of the worst cases he has ever seen - I was unresponsive to steriods / asacol and the next step was remicade or removal of my colon.

I treated my disease NUTRITIONALY, following the GAPS diet (www.gapsdiet.com) and taking a few supplements (Cod liver oil, probiotics, L-Glutamine).

Within 2 days of sticking to the diet / supplement program, my UC went into remission and I have had NO symptoms what so ever since. I am on no medication, and have REGULAR BM's every day - no blood.

Anyone with Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis please visit www.gapsdiet.com .
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