Wheatgrass: Works well with other medications Fresh, not powdered One study showed – 100 ml fresh wheatgrass daily for 1 month (starting at 20 ml and working up for 5 days) or placebo showed: Reductions in disease activity Reduced severity of rectal bleeding Reduced pain Side effect: Nausea >Take with food instead ⭐starring system criteria: […]
Glutamine: Helpful for healing the gut lining and glutathione production (antioxidant, scavenger), especially in Crohn’s Dosage matters – 20-30 g/day, 4 scoops in morning and 4 at night Taken away from food, either 30 min before or 2 hours after meals ⭐starring system criteria: Works well with medications Additional benefits Has evidence to support its […]
Fish oil: Quality matters You want it to be enteric coated so that it resists stomach acid breakdown, gets further down into the GI tract Is well-sourced Has been tested for environmental toxins Dosing matters: 2-3 g EPA/DHA 1.2-1.8 g/d EPA, 0.6-0.9 g/d DHA Anti-inflammatory effect Antioxidant effect (reduced oxidative stress with sulphasalazine @ 4.5 […]
Curcumin Meriva: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, fat soluble, active ingredient in turmeric, poorly absorbed on its own (form and absorbability is really important) Peperine formulations can have potential downsides with medication interactions* Meriva form is most widely researched in IBD Other well absorbed formulations: Peperine formulations, potential downsides* BCM-95®- Curcumin + Essential oils Meriva® – Curcumin + […]
Boswellia: Powerful anti-inflammatory 3.6 g/d equally effective as mesalazine in Crohn’s (and better tolerated) ~1 g/d helpful for inducing remission in UC 1.2 g/d increased rate of remission in collagenous colitis Can be used in conjunction with other anti inflammatory medications Both Curcumin and Boswellia utilize the same pathway as mesalazine You could choose to […]
Why Supplement in IBD? Many work alongside medications Many can amplify anti-inflammatory effects Can help in getting to sustainable remission easier with a more targeted approach Additional benefits (like anti-cancer properties) Can help reduce costs of medications Use caution, always seek to find evidence and support behind well marketed products Considerations: Many studies are “dose […]