some time ago I mentioned recalling reading an abstract of research that
compared vegan vs non-veg fecal flora. I looked in the database I used,
and I think the study below is the one I saw before. Those interested
in the topic might want to review the article.

    Peltonen R; Kjeldsen-Kragh J; Haugen M; Tuominen J; Toivanen P; Forre O;
        Eerola E.
      Changes of faecal flora in rheumatoid arthritis during fasting and
      one-year vegetarian diet.
    British Journal of Rheumatology, 1994 Jul, 33(7):638-43.

Abstract: The beneficial effect of a 1-yr vegetarian diet in RA has recently
    been demonstrated in a clinical trial. We have analysed stool samples of the
    53 RA patients by using direct stool sample gas-liquid chromatography of
    bacterial cellular fatty acids. Based on repeated clinical assessments
    disease improvement indices were constructed for the patients. At each time
    point during the intervention period the patients in the diet group were
    then assigned either to a group with a high improvement index (HI) or a
    group with a low improvement index (LI). Significant alteration in the
    intestinal flora was observed when the patients changed from omnivorous to
    vegan diet. There was also a significant difference between the periods with
    vegan and lactovegetarian diets. The faecal flora from patients with HI and
    LI differed significantly from each other at 1 and 13 months during the
    diet. This finding of an association between intestinal flora and disease
    activity may have implications for our understanding of how diet can affect
    RA.

Regards,
Tom Billings
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