Specific Carbohydrate Diet

[Dr. Imago]

Thanks TT and flume for your responses.

The SCD apparently is designed to exclude certain bacteria which in IBD (such as ulcerative colitis), the immune system recognises these "bad" bacteria inappropriately leading to an inflammatory response in the colon (not nice).

So it is correct that IBD is assumed to be caused by an inappropriate immune reaction to the gut flora and hence the SCD would seem to have some logic. But I have not seen any studies behind this diet and so far it is anecdotal evidence which makes me suspicious.

The two predominate disease entities in IBD, Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, there is not strong evidence to suggest that the reaction is caused by inflammatory reactions to normal gut flora.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?call=bv.View..ShowSection&rid=gnd.section.116

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/colitis/index.htm

Experimental treatment modalities aimed at changing the diet have not resulted in reduction of illness in either disease state.

http://www.ccfa.org/research/info/diet

-TT

 

[Capsid]

Thank you once again TT for taking time to answer.

Your second link says this:

Theories about what causes ulcerative colitis abound, but none have been proven. The most popular theory is that the body's immune system reacts to a virus or a bacterium by causing ongoing inflammation in the intestinal wall.

I have read this elsewhere too, the other two links do not really address cause.

So my theory is that due to a genetic disposition the host reacts to a virus or bacterium which then sets up the inflammatory condition. Food is not the cause and changing diet won't make a jot of difference unless you can eliminate the inflammatory pathogen. Hence my question about the SCD, can it work by eliminating the inflammaotry bacteria?

Many people with IBD look to diet as the cause but really it is certain foods that exacerbate the disease by irritating the diseased gut. This leads to symptoms (blood, diarrhoea, frequent bowel movements) that are similar to those of IBD and hence the confusion that diet is a contributary factor.