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Hello everyone-

I found this information on the Internet and I was hoping someone with a background in science, nutrition, or statistics could interpret this information for me. I don't want to sound rude, but if you don't have a thorough understanding of this information please restrain from commenting. Unfortunately, a restricted diet doesn't make a big difference for me. I have had active moderately severe Crohn's for 20 years. I do have a restricted diet to lessen the my symptoms, but unfortunately I have never been able to get in to remission via diet, drugs, herbals, or any other alternative therapies.

www.ncbi.nlh.nih.gov/pubmed/1909583

If the link does not work, please use Yahoo to search

Long-Term Effects of Elemental and Exclusion Diets for Crohn's Disease

 Reply posted for Radish.

Where do you get that book.  The Makers Diet!

 Reply posted for SCDkris.

I tried that diet and the yogurt thing I just don't have time for.  Also, the almond flour cost money to have it shipped to you.  I tried a couple of recipes with the almond flour and they did not cook right in my oven.  I live in Colorado but don't think that is it.  It cooks on the outside but not the inside.  I am talking about the bread recipes.  Some of the recipes I still use but not all of them.

 Reply posted for Ceres.

I read your post. Thank you so much for interpreting the information I posted. I have Crohn's in my large intestines and a little bit in my small intestines. Now I know why diet never worked for me, because 90% of my Crohn's disease is in my large intestines. Even after 20 years I learn something new.

 Reply posted for Ceres.

A proper diet is important for everyone obviously, but yes, you're probably onto something when you say that it won't dramatically affect the course of your crohn's disease. One doctor explains that diet changes the duration and severity of flare ups, rather than whether they occur at all or whether you'll need surgery (https://www.healthtap.com/user_questions/36222-are-there-diets-that-can-stop-the-progression-of-crohn-s-disease-and-stop-me-from-needing-more-surgery). If this helps...I thought it was interesting at least!

 Reply posted for rethomp1974.

Currently a student in public health and epidemiology...

I could only access the abstract, so I can't give a full review...
The study is small with only 27 patients. They appear to have achieved remission over one month with the chosen diet, and then kept track of over the next three years. Two thirds of the patients relapsed within the year, and most of that within six months. 
Colonic disease was associated with earlier relapse.
One third of the patients made it beyond a year.

My reading of this: if your colon is NOT affected by your Crohn's disease, you have a one in three chance of making it a couple of years before relapsing again. Not bad odds, realistically. If you do have colon disease, you can still try, but it's less likely to work out.

The breakdown of the patient groups is confusing as outlined in the abstract, so I wouldn't try to get too much out of that. However, this is a REALLY SMALL study. This is the sort of study you do to see if it's worth following up with more research, but without seeing the actual methods and how they defined a normal versus exclusion diet, I would not draw any conclusions from this.

 Reply posted for rethomp1974.

I can't help interpret the science stuff out there but can tell you that the Specific Carbohydrate diet has been my miracle!  
 I have UC and meds DO NOT work for me - never have!  Yes, steroids will always reduce inflammation but can not be used continually forever.  I was desperate for a solution earlier this year and accidentally stumbled across the Specific Carbohydrate Diet.  It IS working!!  I feel so good and am improving everyday.

http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/

http://pecanbread.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Vicious-Cycle-Intestinal-Through/product-reviews/0969276818/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

There are a lot of support groups out there too which have loads of people from all over the country which have been on this diet for years and consider themselves cured!  Diet works for my IBD for sure.  It is extreme and I believe people fail because it is very hard to start or they don't realize they are eating something 'bad' since companies do not list all ingredients on food!!  But once you get into the grove you learn how to cook a modified version of anything you are craving.  All you have to do is ask the many people on this diet and they will help support you in your journey.
Kris

 Reply posted for rethomp1974.

Hi there,

I think diet makes the biggest difference of all.  While just taking drugs, I was still constantly getting sick.  Drugs don't really heal, they only mask symptoms.  Diet is what helps you heal.  I read the book The Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin and began following the diet about 5 years ago.  It changed my life.  If you are dedicated to really getting healthy, it takes a lifestyle change.  This has helped me more than words can say. 

Best of luck to you! 

 Reply posted for rethomp1974.

This study  seems to confirm what doctors often tell us - that  elemental diets are more effective for Crohns than uc. The colon always seems to be the most difficult to heal and proctitis which seems so minor compared to Crohns is really resistant to treatment.

I have only seen the abstract  and so I don't know the composition of the elemental diet used but if it is gluten-free Fasano's research explains why this would help with healing the small bowel. The elemental diet  used may be  'low-fat' with too much sugar in it to be ideal. The fats in our diet are highly metabolically active and  until we change them I think we will remain at much higher risk from damage by other foods.

The vagus nerve has much less effect on the colon than the rest of the digestive system and perhaps it is poorer signalling to the brain that makes it so difficult to repair the colon once damaged. A total change in how I look at food (but it doesn't feel restricted at all ) has made a big difference to me but I still have persistent problems in the last part of the colon and in his book, Life without Bread, Lutz said that uc was the slowest to improve on his diet with bleeding persisting for as long as 8 years.