Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease affecting the rectum and colon. People who have ulcerative colitis develop inflammation and bleeding sores in the lining of their colon. They may also have diarrhea due to the colon emptying more often than is necessary. Symptoms of colitis often present in ways similar to other inflammatory bowel conditions such as inflammatory bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease, as well as other conditions like celiac disease, a sensitivity to gluten; however, as of 2011, no association has been found between consuming gluten and a worsening of ulcerative colitis.
Overview of Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis usually first appears in people between age 15 and 30 and is seen equally in men and women. While it is similar in some respects to the other common inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, Crohn's tends to produce inflammation deeper than the intestinal lining and can affect other parts of the digestive system as well. Ulcerative colitis is found in the rectum and colon alone. Symptoms usually include bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain. Those with ulcerative colitis may also experience fatigue, weight loss, skin lesions and joint pain. Ulcerative colitis is generally treated with prescription drug regimens and the goal of treatment is "remission," or a disappearance of symptoms.
Potential Causes of Ulcerative Colitis
While the exact cause of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like ulcerative colitis is not known, the inflammation associated with IBD is considered to be the result of an abnormal reaction of your body's immune system. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center; for some reason, in people with IBD, infection-fighting cells in the body are triggered to produce autoantibodies, which attack the body's own cells. The result can be the inflammation and lesions associated with ulcerative colitis. Some research indicates that genetics and the number of infections someone experienced during early childhood also play a part in the likelihood of a person developing IBD, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Additionally, while some research has explored the relationship of diet to IBD, as of 2011, no strong evidence shows that diet causes ulcerative colitis.
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Diet
While many people choose to manage their ulcerative colitis with drug regimens, some also opt to take a different approach. Making dietary changes has brought relief to some people who suffer from IBD, but talk to your physician before changing your treatment approach. According to a March 2007 article n "Medscape General Medicine," specially-prepared diets called "elemental diets" have helped some IBD patients achieve and stay in remission. Elemental diets provide nutrition and amino acids, and require no digestion, so they are readily absorbed. While they produce promising results, the prospect of a lifetime of an "unpalatable" diet is enough to cause many people to stop this kind of therapy. The article also notes that IBD has been linked to a higher consumption of refined sugar and carbohydrates in studies, and that increasing omega-3 fatty acids in diet has produced favorable results in people with IBD.
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet
A diet similar in some respects to elemental diets is the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, or SCD, popularized by its creator, Elaine Gottschall. The March 2007 article in "Medscape General Medicine," discusses this diet as well, noting that its goal is to provide the body with fully-digested nutrients. Gottschall suggests that people following the SCD avoid complex sugars like sucrose and lactose and starches like rice, corn and anything with gluten, explaining that these foods lead to undigested material in the gut on which harmful bacteria can feed. Instead, Gottschall encourages people to eat plenty of probiotic-containing foods like yogurt, and fresh fruits and vegetables. The "Medscape General Medicine," article notes that while there is currently no empirical evidence supporting this eating plan, it has a number of supporters happy with their results. Discuss the SCD with your physician if you are interested in trying it.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Ulcerative Colitis
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Ulcerative Colitis - Causes; Harvey Simon, MD; Dec. 1, 2008
- "Medscape General Medicine"; Dietary Factors in the Modulation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity; Shinil Shah; March 2007
- Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Beginner's Guide
