naturalnews.com printable article

Originally published April 17 2005

Fish oils, other supplements can be good treatment for bowel disease, study shows

by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor

Fish oils and other supplements rich in fiber and antioxidants can help bowel disease patients avoid medicines that often have troublesome side-effects, a new study says. Researchers in Cleveland say the supplements cut the need for corticosteroid drugs which can often lead to insomnia, increased appetite, mood swings, high blood pressure and even osteoporosis.



A supplement of fish oil, soluble fibre and vitamins and antioxidants reduces reliance on traditional therapies for people with ulcerative colitis, according to a new study. "Our study proves that an oral supplement which combines fish oil, soluble fibre and antioxidants is safer and causes fewer side effects than many of the medications currently available to treat ulcerative colitis," said Dr Douglas Seidner, lead author of the study. Researchers at The Cleveland Clinic in the US conducted a randomized controlled, clinical trial of patients aged 18 and older with mild to moderate active ulcerative colitis. Patients on corticosteroid therapy who were given the oral supplement had a significant reduction in the dose of corticosteroids needed to control their condition compared to a placebo group, write the researchers in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Ulcerative colitis is one of the UK's most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease and affects an estimated 50,000 people in the UK, with a particularly high incidence in north-east Scotland. The acute and chronic disease causes inflammation and sores, called ulcers, in the lining of the large bowel. Treatments for the disease, including corticosteroids and mesalamine are intended to control inflammation. While corticosteroids are highly effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, prolonged use often leads to insomnia, mood alterations, increased appetite, hypertension, osteoporosis and other adverse events. These adverse effects lead to discontinuation of the therapy by many patients. The current study combines fish oil with soluble fibre to diminish the inflammation associated with ulcerative colitis symptoms. "The need to find new treatments that are safe, effective and inexpensive remains, and physicians should consider adding this combination of active ingredients as an adjuvant therapy for ulcerative colitis," concluded Seidner.


All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml