The actual cause of MC

[dianebarkeridaho]

Hi everyone. After so many months of research I am beginning to wonder about one cause of MC. Is it possible that MC is a result of having too much bile in the colon? Perhaps the bile changes the colon tissue? Inflames it. Thoughts?

[tex]

Hi,

Bile salts are reabsorbed for recycling in the terminal ileum. The inflammation that causes MC can (and does, for most of us) cause malabsorption, which prevents nutrients from our food from being properly absorbed in the small intestine, and prevents unused bile from being absorbed in the terminal ileum. It can also prevent electrolytes from being absorbed in the colon. And yes, unabsorbed bile passing into the colon, can exacerbate the inflammation.

But normally, bile acid malabsorption (BAM) is not the initial cause of MC (although BAM has been shown to be the cause of approximately 40% of persistent diarrhea that's refractive to conventional treatments). And in that case, it can probably lead to MC if left unresolved. MC has been shown to be triggered by antibiotics, NSAIDs, and other medications, infections, parasites, stopping a long-term smoking habit, cleanout solutions used before a colonoscopy, and virtually anything else that can cause chronic inflammation of the intestines, including stress from any source. The medical community classifies the pathogenesis of MC as unknown, but epidemiological evidence from a vast collection of shared experiences on this forum suggests that there are many causes of MC. And in most cases, BAM is a result of the malabsorption caused by MC, rather than MC being caused by the BAM.

I hope this helps.

Tex

[dianebarkeridaho]

Thanks for that explanation Tex. One other question…..

If we are in remission with no more flares….can the colon heal? Is it possible? Could a biopsy of the colon (after MC is in remission), actually be normal? No lymphocytes and no collagenous tissue?

[Gabes-Apg]

Yes the gut can heal
there are a few posts here where members after healing and having repeat colonoscopy say their MC has gone

albiet for some of these people it came back, whether because of stress or medical issue remission tends to be fragile not lifelong.

[tex]

Yes. If we're very careful with our diet, our intestines will eventually heal, although they heal slowly. We have had several members of this board who have eventually had "totally clean" biopsy reports. I don't remember the identity of most of them, but Polly, a pediatrician was one who posted that before she developed MC, her colonoscopies always showed polyps. After she adopted the GF diet, and started taking vitamin D, a routine colonoscopy at about her 10 year anniversary after starting the diet, revealed no polyps, and her biopsies showed that the epithelia of her colon had returned to normal histology. In other words, there was absolutely no sign of MC. Her colon had healed. She gave vitamin D the credit for eliminating the polyps that previously bothered her.

Unfortunately, not long after that, a beloved pet dog died of old age, and the stress of that loss caused her to have a relapse, which lasted a long time, as I recall. Polly hasn't posted in years. The last I heard from her, she had gotten into local politics, and was so short on time that she had to quit posting.

Tex

[jbrohlr]

I'll throw in my amateur opinion. And I apologize in advance for just repeating the things that Tex has brought up many times before (I'm not much of an original thinker, sadly).

Maybe "actual cause" should be replaced with "common denominator(s)". Obviously gluten is a denominator, but I think it is obvious that it can't be the only one. One example of what I'm trying to say is that in the MC books and on this site there is mention of a bacteria or virus possibly at play with this illness.

My recurring question I have with MC has been "why not everyone?"

- A good percentage of people with Coeliac disease develop MC, but why not all coeliacs? Maybe there's more than one genetic component.
- People who use medications habitually (NSAIDs, PPIs, etc.) can develop this disease, but shouldn't everyone who overdoes it with those medicines? Maybe they do.
- Why such a variety of symptoms? Or maybe why such a variety of combinations of symptoms?
- Why me? Why not my brother and sister (although they have their own autoimmune(?) problems)?
- Why the variety of IBDs? There's Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis, and MC (don't know if Coeliac and Diverticulitis are considered IBDs). Are they really separate illnesses? Is leaky gut behind them all and why doesn't everyone with leaky gut develop and IBD?
- Can the differences all be caused by genetics?

I'm sure at least some of these questions have already been answered - I am finding IBD to be a confusing and vast subject so it's not easy to remember/retain all that I have read. That said, I still think the question is sound; why are there people who should develop MC never developing MC?

John R.

[Gabes-Apg]

John
in line with your common denominator thought process

Nutrients

Vit D3 and magnesium help many in early stages of healing
immune system nutrients like Zinc, Vit C etc are also key to minimising reaction

Pretty sure nutrient deficiencies are main reason auto immune issues start

[dianebarkeridaho]

Thanks Tex, John, and Gabes, that is all interesting to discuss.

Gabes - I have been a vitamin d advocate since 2007. I took a deep dive into the research. I have take about 4,000 units per day every day since then. I even did a trial of 10,000 units a day for 6 monts to fend off osteoporosis. My doc tested my levels and I was at the tippy top of normal so she asked me to back off to 5,000 a day which I did. (and I had my first bone scan at age 60 , two years ago, and the results showed I had the bones of a 33 year old, so that was good).

I had also learned of magnesium benefits about 30 years ago. My doc said to take as much as I could tolerate to loose stools. That amount was 400 mg per day. So I took that everyday until about 2-3 years ago when it seemed as if I had grown intolerant of magnesium, and rather quickly. It was almost as if one day I was fine taking it and the next my body rejected it. So I stopped. I have tried to restart it after reading this website. I tried Dr.s Best Glycinate, I tried Pure Encapsulations Glycinate. If I even take 100mg with my dinner I get D. I tried to get 100 mg from food (hemp seeds or pumpkin seeds) and I get D. I am so perplexed by this, and no medical professionals have been able to explain it. I had myself tested (blood test) to see if I was overly high in mag. It was normal. I even had my well tested to see if there was an unusual amount of mag in it. Turns out I get about 50 mg a day from my well water.

I have, per this site, taken epsom salts baths, but I can't always take a bath.

I just wonder....did I build up a lot of mag in my religious daily 400 mg dose, and my body just doesn't need any right now? Or is my vit D in my body so high that it rejects mag? I am so curious about that it makes me a little crazy :)