At the moment I am reading a book on SC diet (the one of Elaine Gottschall). I am reading it with mixed feeling. That is not because I do think the diet is wrong or will not work, in many aspects it is like paleo, only more foods are allowed (for example some legumes, fruit juice, and strangely enough some dairy product as butter cottage cheese and home made yoghurt). It is the explanation why the diet works that makes me think.
Okay this will all be simplified and maybe I am not getting it all100%. But the bottom line is, people get bowel problems (IBD IBS and even celiac) because they can not digest disaccharides properly, the last step in the whole digestion of sugars (and carbohydrates) goes wrong, from di to a monosaccharide). Because of that it get not absorbed, moves to the colon, food for the bacteria's over there, causing a misbalance. Because of this this misbalance, some bacteria's produce toxins, what actually cause the inflammation, irritation or damage of the gut. What I forgot the mention, because of the inflammation, irritation or damage (in case of celiac), disaccharides can not be digested anymore. So you end up in a circle
I don't remember what is first there egg of chicken (disaccharide digestive problems or imbalance in bacteria in the colon)
On one hand I thing yes she has a point, because of the famous lactose example. It is well known that in a lot of bowel diseases people have problems with digestion lactose, so why this could not be the same for other sugars. And bacteria's being the trigger of a IBD is not a new strange idea.
On the other hand she has totally different view on gluten. Celiac does not exits and is not (only) caused by gluten but is disaccharide problem too. Well a combination of both. What she actually is saying , there are a lot more out there experiencing the same problems as celiac patients only they do not fit in the criteria of the diagnoses. The famous IBS patients. Also there are celiacs that do not recover from only a gluten free diet alone.
I have the feeling/idea, yes for sure she is on the right track, only still there is something missing. Just one piece of the whole bowel disease puzzle.
reading book in SC diet
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Harma,
Her viewpoint is correct, in stating that celiacs also have a problem with disaccharides. Any form of enteritis, (intestinal inflammation), causes the brush border region of the small intestine to stop producing enzymes, which are necessary for the digestion of sugars, (carbs), and celiac sprue causes inflammation of the small intestine. The enzyme production is discontinued in stages, depending on how long the enteritis continues. The first enzyme to disappear, is lactase, which is necessary for splitting milk sugar, (lactose). I'm not sure which one is next, (I'm thinking that fructase may be the last to go), but eventually, as the damage to the small intestine continues, virtually all of the enzymes produced in that area will be discontinued, one by one, in sequence. As each sequential enzyme is discontinued, another type of sugar cannot be digested in the small intestine, and those foods pass into the colon, where they are digested by fermentation.
After the enteritis has ended, then the enzyme production will resume, in the reverse order of the way they were discontinued. IOW, lactase will be the last enzyme to be restored to production. That's why lactose intolerance is so common with any GI event - lactase enzyme is the first to go, and the last to be restored.
However, the primary problem, (once celiac disease or an IBD has been triggered), will be protein intolerance, not sugar intolerance, because the protein intolerance must be removed, before the enteritis can be controlled. In reality, though, both protein intolerance and sugar intolerance must be controlled, before remission will be achieved, because both conditions can cause enteritis, for most people. As far as which one comes first -
? IMO, sugar intolerance can lead to celiac sprue, or an IBD, if it is continued long enough to cause some genes to be triggered. In many cases, though, protein intolerance probably comes first, and then it will cause sugar intolerances. If IBS continues long enough, it will probably lead to celiac disease, or an IBD, depending on the individual's genetic makeup.
At least, that's the way I see it.
Tex
Her viewpoint is correct, in stating that celiacs also have a problem with disaccharides. Any form of enteritis, (intestinal inflammation), causes the brush border region of the small intestine to stop producing enzymes, which are necessary for the digestion of sugars, (carbs), and celiac sprue causes inflammation of the small intestine. The enzyme production is discontinued in stages, depending on how long the enteritis continues. The first enzyme to disappear, is lactase, which is necessary for splitting milk sugar, (lactose). I'm not sure which one is next, (I'm thinking that fructase may be the last to go), but eventually, as the damage to the small intestine continues, virtually all of the enzymes produced in that area will be discontinued, one by one, in sequence. As each sequential enzyme is discontinued, another type of sugar cannot be digested in the small intestine, and those foods pass into the colon, where they are digested by fermentation.
After the enteritis has ended, then the enzyme production will resume, in the reverse order of the way they were discontinued. IOW, lactase will be the last enzyme to be restored to production. That's why lactose intolerance is so common with any GI event - lactase enzyme is the first to go, and the last to be restored.
However, the primary problem, (once celiac disease or an IBD has been triggered), will be protein intolerance, not sugar intolerance, because the protein intolerance must be removed, before the enteritis can be controlled. In reality, though, both protein intolerance and sugar intolerance must be controlled, before remission will be achieved, because both conditions can cause enteritis, for most people. As far as which one comes first -
? IMO, sugar intolerance can lead to celiac sprue, or an IBD, if it is continued long enough to cause some genes to be triggered. In many cases, though, protein intolerance probably comes first, and then it will cause sugar intolerances. If IBS continues long enough, it will probably lead to celiac disease, or an IBD, depending on the individual's genetic makeup.At least, that's the way I see it.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
My daughter has been on the SC diet for at least 18 months now. I don't know anything about disaccharides, but I do know that she makes her own yogurt and that she has overcome many issues in her life because of this diet and she has many friends who have found no other diet that has worked for them to regain their health. She swears by it.
Resolved MC symptoms successfully w/L-Glutamine, Probiotics and Vitamins, GF since 8/'09. DX w/MC 10/'09.
