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Confirmed! The Link Between Crohns and Food Intolerance
At last researchers have finally confirmed that a link between Crohn’s Disease and food intolerance does exist. Something that most crohn’s patients have been trying to tell their doctor for years, but with the message falling on deaf ears.
The results of a six-month study carried out by University College London shows compelling evidence that food can impact on both Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative Colitis sufferers.
In the past Doctors haven’t put much weight to the claims from patients that they are intolerant to certain foods, however this study could change that attitude.
The study was made up of the following groups:
28 patients had Crohn’s Disease
25 patients had ulcerative colitis
24 people as a control group without an IBD
These groups were all given a list of 113 foods in advance of the study and asked which of the foods they felt they had a bad a reaction too and whether that reaction was gut-based or not.
Then over the course of the 6 month study all the participants had their blood tested for individual intolerances to the list of 113 foods using levels of IgG antibodies as a yardstick to measure by.
From these blood tests the control group had the least intolerances.
The 53 people who made up the crohn’s and colitis groups were typically intolerant to three or more of the 113 foods.
The most common intolerances being wheat, milk, beans, coffee, onions and oranges.
Dr. Anton Emmanuel, who lead the research team at UCL said: “The results were compelling. If there had been no link, one would have expected the results to be 50/50 - i.e. random chance association between (i) patients with objective measure of food sensitivity and (ii) subjective report of food sensitivity.”
“For years, GPs - indeed most of the medical community - have perceived food intolerances as being largely in the mind, and this is probably the first research project to demonstrate that they could well be wrong.
“Indeed this points to what could be a direct link between food intolerance and patient symptoms.”
The UCL team are now going to be looking at the links between IgG antibodies and food intolerances in further detail, including whether its possible to identify specific foods to avoid based on antibody tests.
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:19 pm
I was diagnosed with Crohns disease in 1986. Even prior to my diagnosis I had a strong feeling that the symptoms I was experiencing was due to a form of intolerance to certain foods. The main food product being any foods made with wheat. I also had a bad reaction to Oranges. I also completely believe that Crohns is hereditary. My mother, sister and nephew along with my son have IBDs. My son , nephew and sister have been diagnosed with Crohns.
August 3rd, 2007 at 1:35 am
Thank you so much for this article. I have thought for the most of nearly two years that food has a huge impact on my disease and pain. All foods listed are the exact same foods that definitely cause lots of pain and discomfort. Please contiune this great work! Jess
August 16th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
I was diagnosed with the beginning stages of U/C in ‘86. I was telling my doctors that I thought it was from eating smoked foods. This all fell on deaf ears and the Dr. wanted me to go on a lifelong pill. I had refused and he said if you don’t get allergy tested and refuse to take this prescribed medication, I can no longer treat you! When I went to get tested, it was the normal allergy test and they did not at the time do chemical testing because the Insurance Companies would not pay for this test. I was told I could pay for it out of pocket and it was expensive. I was also informed that Dr.’s did not treat patients for this even if the test came back positive. I was on 13-14 pills of azulfidine and he did not give me any blood test. I had gone to my Gyn (when back then they did there own blood test) yearly check-up and they called to inform me that my platelets were in the danger zone. I changed Dr.’s of course and continued to realize that every time I ate BBQ foods or grilled foods that I became very ill. I backed off of BBQ and smoked foods and when reading labels began to see how much smoke enhancements is added to foods, even packaged foods. In ‘96 I had a bad reaction to food that I had eaten at two Craft Fairs that my family had purchased believing it wasn’t smoke/grilled. It didn’t have the smoke smell or taste. I got extremely ill and was in the hospital for 30 days. A Gastro Dr. was called in and he wanted to put me on some extremely dangerous medications and I refused. I got my health back and in fear of getting this ill again I had Colon Surgery to remove my large colon. I have a J-pouch and my gallbladder had been removed years ago and thus this has caused me food issues within it’s self and I became lactose intolerant. Now ten years later from the colon removal they suspect Crohn’s. I keep having fistulas and had two abscesses a couple months ago. They do not seem to want to go away and I have been on Flaygl of 1,000 mg p.d. and it’s getting increased to 1,500 p.d. in hopes it will heal the fistulas. No one in my family has had any bowel diseases and I pray my future generation doesn’t either. The only concern I have presently is with taking such strong medication and how often I should have my blood tested to see if it’s creating any other issues with my health. I am so hoping the stronger medication will help as I am not looking forward to any test and having any surgery. I am a firm believer that my U/C or Crohn’s started from eating smoked/grilled foods!