Are there benefits from combining fish oils and Ulcerative Colitis? Research shows these healthy oils may play a positive role in your ulcerative colitis treatment plan.

What is Ulcerative Colitis (UC)?

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of your rectum and colon.

It causes inflammation and can produce ulcers. The inflammation kills the cells lining the colon which bleed and produce pus. The inflammation in the colon can also cause diarrhea.

The disease can occur at any age. Research shows it usually appears in younger people between the ages of 15 to 30 and less frequently between 50 to 70 years of age.

Statistics indicate this disease occurs in every 8 to 15 people for every 100,000 in the U.S. and Northern Europe. It can affect both men and women equally and appears to run in families.

For some reason, Japan has one of the lowest rates with only 0.34 people per 100,000. Could their fish-based diet have something to do with it? If so, maybe there are benefits in fish oils and ulcerative colitis treatment?

Fish Oils Reduce Steroid Use by over 50% in Colitis Patients

St. Louis, Missouri - Eighteen (18) patients with active ulcerative colitis enrolled in a study looking at the possible health benefits of fish oils. All the patients' disease was 'active' with diarrhea and rectal inflammation. Prescribed drug treatment continued throughout the study using Prednisone and Sulfasalazine.

• Sulfasalazine is frequently used in ulcerative colitis treatment. It helps treat symptoms of bowel inflammation, diarrhea, rectal bleeding and abdominal pain.
• Prednisone is a steroid commonly used to treat inflammation.

The National Institute of Health states both drugs come with a host of side effects including: extreme mood changes, slow healing of cuts and bruises, irregular or absent menstrual periods, seizures, depression, irregular heart beat, sudden weight gain and vomitting.

Omega 3 fatty acids have proven anti-inflammatory properties. Could they be an alternative to powerful drugs used in standard ulcerative colitis treatment? In this study, patients took either 18 Max-EPA capsules daily (equalling 3 grams eicosapentaenoic acid and 2 grams docosahexaenoic acid in total) or a placebo consisting of 18 capsules of vegetable oil. Study participants were evaluated at the start of the study and after each diet period.

Parameters used for monitoring included:

1. Flexible sigmoidoscopy (a small flexible scope used to visualize the surface of the colon)
2. Tissue samples from the rectum
3. Blood tests to measure chemical levels of inflammatory markers.

And the results are:

• Patients taking fish oils showed a major decrease in inflammatory markers.
• Patients taking fish oils gained bodyweight (many patients suffering from ulcerative colitis experience weight loss).
• Patients taking fish oils reduced their daily Prednisone requirements by more than 50%.

Patients taking the placebo didn't do as well. They had to increase their Prednisone requirements by almost 24%.

Researchers concluded using fish oil supplements in ulcerative colitis:

• Reduces the need for steroids by more than 50%
• Decreases inflammatory markers in the body and helps patients gain bodyweight.

Fish Oils help Decrease Amount of Drugs used to treat Ulcerative Colitis

Martinez, California - A study from the American Journal of Gastroenterology shows fish oils improve symptoms of ulcerative colitis and reduced the amount of medication needed to treat the disease.

Eleven (11) patients with ulcerative colitis of mild to moderate severity were studied for an 8 month period. Patients took either a fish oil supplement providing about 4 grams of omega 3 fatty acids per day or a placebo.

Patients' symptoms were monitored using a 'Disease Activity Index':

• Sigmoidoscope was used to look at the actual tissue surface of the colon.
• Levels of inflammatory chemicals measured using radio-immunoassay. This is a lab technique using radiation to measure specific substances in your body.

And the results are:

• Patients taking fish oils had a 56% decrease in their symptoms according to the Disease Activity Index.
• 72% of the patients using fish oils were able to reduce their need for anti-inflammatory drugs. Some of these patients were able to stop taking anti-inflammatory drugs completely during the study.

There was no change in the inflammatory chemicals measured in both the fish oil and placebo patients. Nor was there any change in the actual tissue surface of the colon as viewed with the sigmoidoscope in both groups. Only 4% of the placebo patients had a decrease in their symptoms.

Researchers determined fish oil supplements help improve symptoms in mild to active ulcerative colitis and reduced the amount of anti-inflammatory drugs taken. They felt more studies are needed to determine the best dosage and duration when combining fish oils and ulcerative colitis treatment.

Comments:

What's impressive about these fish oils and ulcerative colitis studies is the dramatic effect on inflammation. Omega 3 fish oils seem to help patients reduce the amount of corticosteroids needed to deal with their symptoms.

Corticosteriods form a common part of the treatment plan for patients with ulcerative colitis. Unfortunately, some people experience severe side effects from these powerful drugs.

While fish oils aren't a cure for ulcerative colitis, studies show they may help reduce inflammation and improve the quality of life for many afflicted by this disease.

Fish Oils and Ulcerative Colitis - Choosing the Right Fish Oil

Choosing the right fish oil supplement can make a big difference in the benefits derived from these natural marine oils. Using a fish oil proven to provide patented anti-inflammatory effects, and made of the highest omega 3 concentrates, is key to getting positive results.

Dr. Barry Sears claims to have created a specialized high-dose fish oil called Zone Labs Omega 3 Concentrates. These powerful fish oils have been proven in the International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS) Report to have the highest concentration of omega 3's. These fish oils are considered more powerful than many store-bought fish oils.

Treating ulcerative colitis requires the highest quality nutrients for maximum healing effects. Dr. Sears Zone Labs Omega 3 Concentrates may provide your body with the anti-inflammatory effects you seek to help manage inflammatory bowel conditions more effectively.

Click the banner below for more detailed information on Dr. Sears fish oils and how you can use these to fight inflammation and improve your health:

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