Diet: These fatty acids cause Crohn’s-like inflammation of the intestines – Natural medicine naturopathic specialist portal
Polyunsaturated fatty acids with a negative effect in the intestine
More and more people are suffering from diseases of chronic inflammation of the intestine, wherein the nutrition is attributed in the modern industrial Nations a major role. According to a recent study by researchers at the Medical University of Innsbruck, in particular, the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the so-called Western diet seem to promote inflammatory reactions in the intestine.
“The incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) has increased in the last few years” and “in addition to genetic components of the Western diet is thought to play a Central causative role,” reports the Medical University of Innsbruck, in a communication to the new study results. In the context of the study, the researchers to the possible causes for the negative effects of the Western diet while looking for the polyunsaturated fatty acids as a trigger of inflammatory reactions in the intestine identified.
Causes of the disease is unclear
Inflammatory bowel disease is an increasingly common complaint image, whose causes remain still unclear. “While there are approximately 300 identified genetic variants that influence the risk for the development of a CED, however, genetics can explain only a small part of the disease”; the Innsbruck research team reported.
Western diet, with negative effects
It is also suspected to have a strong connection with the diet and especially the Western diet as a possible trigger named. Because “migration studies have revealed that the Western diet plays a Central role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory bowel disease,” explains the expert for bowel disease Herbert Tilg, from the Medical University of Innsbruck. For example, the low CED-Rate of the Japanese, who emigrated around 20 years ago in the United States have adapted to, after a few years of the North American population.
What are the components of the diet cause inflammation?
What are the individual components of the Western diet come as a cause for chronic intestinal inflammation into account, the researchers have now investigated in more detail. Here, the complex composition of the diet for the cause of research, however, was a great challenge. The research team has followed, therefore, in search of inflammatory Food components is a new approach.
Special diets investigated in the laboratory
“We have selected for our studies in the laboratory on a diet, which corresponds to the composition of a Western diet. Not only saturated fat but also polyunsaturated fatty acids that are concentrated in meat, various Oils and eggs, a diet enriched laboratory mice fed for about three months,“ says Timon Adolph, of the Medical University of Innsbruck.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids of the trigger?
So, the research team was able to prove, “that, in particular, polyunsaturated fatty acids, inflammation reaction in the intestine cause, which is similar to the image of Crohn’s disease in humans.” The researchers be justified with the influence of polyunsaturated fatty acids on the enzyme GPX4 (Glutathione Peroxidase 4). The enzyme protects the intestinal epithelial cells from oxidative Stress to membrane lipids and prevent the Triggering of an inflammatory response, but it is inhibited by polyunsaturated fatty acids in its activity.
New angle on “healthy” fatty acids
The evidence that polyunsaturated fatty acids triggers can be an inflammation of the bowel, has a special significance, because these fatty acids have so far been considered rather healthy, and partially in food, extra-enriched, or even as a dietary Supplement to be taken. Although the results need to be verified from the experiments in mice now to humans, they should be confirmed, this would change the angle of view on the polyunsaturated fatty acids significantly. (fp)
