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Hypothesis: Increased consumption of emulsifiers as an explanation for the rising incidence of Crohn's disease
Identifier
027445
Type of Spiritual Experience
None
Background
A description of the experience
J Crohns Colitis. 2013 May;7(4):338-41. doi: 10.1016/j.crohns.2013.01.004. Epub 2013 Jan 27.
Hypothesis: Increased consumption of emulsifiers as an explanation for the rising incidence of Crohn's disease.
Roberts CL1, Rushworth SL, Richman E, Rhodes JM.
Author information
1
Department of Gastroenterology, University of Liverpool, Duncan Building, Daulby Street, L69 3GA, United Kingdom.
Abstract
Crohn's disease (CD) incidence has increased over the past fifty years but the explanation is unclear. CD can be brought into remission by liquid enteral feeding, but the mechanism for this response is unknown. We suggest that consumption of emulsifiers in processed foods may promote CD by increasing bacterial translocation. This is supported by evidence that (i) geographical variation in CD correlates with emulsifier consumption as does the increasing incidence of CD in Japan; (ii) although CD incidence also correlates with fat consumption, the response to enteral feeding is not affected by the fat content of the feed and (iii) very small concentrations of the emulsifier polysorbate 80 enhance bacterial translocation across intestinal epithelia. Undigested emulsifiers may increase bacterial translocation, particularly in the small intestine where the mucus layer is discontinuous. The hypothesis should be testable by trials of enteral feeding with/without emulsifiers.
PMID:
23360575