Below are 3 articles on inflammatory bowel disease. Read even one of the=20 articles, and you will know more about the subject than all the raw food=20 gurus combined. :-) #1 Clinical Nutrition Article in Press doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2006.10.001=20 REVIEW ARTICLE Bioecological control of inflammatory bowel disease Stig Bengmark Summary It is today generally accepted, that the intestinal bacterial flora is=20 deeply involved in the pathogenesis of human previous terminflammatory=20 bowel diseasesnext term (IBDs), although the exact presence of unwanted or = lack of specific crucial bacteria are not yet known. Westerners lack to=20 large extent important immunomodulatory and fibre-fermenting lactic acid=20 bacteria (LAB), bacteria which are present in all with a more primitive=20 rural lifestyle. Acute reduction of flora is observed in previous=20 termdisease,next term including IBD, as well as in mental and physical=20 stress. Some observations suggest the mucosa has lost its ability of=20 holding back the pathogenic flora and prevent close contacts between=20 resident microflora and the epithelial surface. Among the manifestations=20 of IBD are increased inflammation and coagulability, impaired cellular=20 membrane function, exaggerated nitric oxide production and impaired=20 short-chain fatty acid production. Animal studies suggest, in addition to=20 reduced flora,=20 an intimate association with immunostimulatory DNA, malfunctioning trifoil = factors, increased splanchnic metabolism and reduced availability of=20 natural antioxidants. Treatment with plant fibres, antioxidants and=20 sometimes probiotics have had limited success. The most dramatic effects=20 are seen in the few cases where total faecal replacement (TFR) has been=20 tried. The general experience this far is that the best effects are=20 obtained with compositions of probiotics rather than with single LAB=20 treatments.=20 #2 International Journal of Food Microbiology Article in Press Review article Inflammatory bowel disease:next term Current insights into pathogenesis=20 and new therapeutic options; probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics Mark S. Geiera Abstract Inflammatory bowel diseasenext term (IBD) is a chronic relapsing disorder=20 involving a dysregulated host?microbiota interaction. IBD patients have=20 been shown to possess an increased risk for the development of colorectal=20 cancer. Recently, focus has been placed on probiotic and prebiotic=20 therapies, which aim to restore balance to the gastrointestinal=20 microbiota, and reduce intestinal inflammation. Probiotics have been=20 assessed extensively in animal models, with a number of clinical trials=20 also demonstrating potential therapeutic benefits. However, it is widely=20 accepted that more double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trials are=20 required. Future research also needs to focus on determining which=20 probiotics are the most efficacious in the IBD setting, and how the=20 genetic and bacterial profiles of the patient will influence treatment=20 responsiveness. Prebiotics have been studied less extensively, however,=20 they may become an ideal treatment or co-treatment option due to their=20 capacity to increase endogenous lactobacillus and bifidobacteria.=20 Probiotics and prebiotics may offer a new therapeutic option for the=20 treatment of IBD, however, a greater understanding of the mechanisms=20 behind their action on the gastrointestinal microbiota is required in=20 order to determine which probiotic, prebiotic or combinations thereof are=20 the most beneficial.=20 #3 Science 5 January 2007 Vol 315, Issue 5808, Pages 33-35 Puzzling Out the Pains in the Gut Jean Marx Newly identified mutations and immune cells are clearing up the mysteries=20 of inflammatory bowel diseases and suggesting novel drug targets. Tom Billings