Borody, TJ, et al. Tunnel vision in the bowel. Center for Digestive Diseases (2001). Review of irritable bowel syndrome, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and its etiology, including infective agents such as Shigella and Campylobacter. Infections of the gut are difficult to treat because no antimicrobial therapy is available that is effective against Clostridia spores. Only bovine colostrum has proven clinical efficacy in eradicating intestinal pathogens, such as rotavirus, and may help control the infections seen in chronic disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome due to the number of biologically active components in colostrum. The growth factors in colostrum help heal intestinal erosions and ulcerations. It also contains anti-inflammatory factors and is nutrient rich. Colostrum may be used alone or in combination with other anti-inflammatory and/or immune substances. Future research should focus on identifying immune strategies, novel delivery systems and identification of the bioactives in colostrum.
Crohn’s Disease (auto-immune condition)
De Keyser, F, et al. Gut inflammation and spondyloarthropathies. Current Rheumatology Reports 4(6):525-532 (2002). Spondyloarthropathies (SpA) are a related group of arthritic conditions which include ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease. SpA have been correlated with gut inflammation and are immunologically related Crohn’s disease. Colostrum’s ability to control gut inflammation and modulate the activity of TNF-a indicate that it may be of benefit in SpA treatment.
Feldmann, M, et al. Cytokines in autoimmune disorders. International Review of Immunology 17(1-4)217-228 (1998). Cytokines are important protein mediators of immunity, inflammation, cell proliferation, differentiation, fibrosis, and so forth, in other words, all the major biological processes which underlie autoimmune disorders. Modulating the effects of these cytokines, particularly TNF-a, can result in amelioration of the symptoms of the disorders.
Lupus (discoid and systemic)(auto-immune condition)
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