Ulcerative colitis is an incurable, chronic disease of the colon with unknown etiology. Researchers at Stanford University have now found that patients with a specific family of Bacteria is lacking in the intestine, the protective substances produced.

The scientists have compared patients with ulcerative colitis with other patients in a non-inflammatory bowel disease, suffered, and in the same way the surgery had been. They found that the patients with ulcerative colitis, certain bacteria called Ruminokokken in the intestine were missing. Therefore, there is a lack of acids of two of the secondary bile: deoxycholic acid and litho-cholic acid. Both anti-inflammatory substances, the manufacture of these bacteria.

"This study helps us to disease better verstehen", Dr. Aida said to have Zion, a Professor of gastroenterology and Hepatology. "We hope that this also means that we can treat it with a naturally produced metabolic by-product that is in a healthy intestine in large quantities."

New therapy option is geprüft

The liver produces the primary bile acids, which are stored in the gall bladder and released to support the digestion of fat. In the intestines they are converted by bacteria into secondary bile acids. Currently, it is carried out in a Stanford clinical study to determine whether secondary bile acids are useful in the treatment of the disease effectively.

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease in which the immune system tissue in the End – or the colon attacks. The patient can suffer from diarrhea, bleeding, fever, weight loss, to a life-threatening blood poisoning. Depending on the Severity of the disease, the quality of life can be affected very strongly. Some patients need surgery, the colon and rectum are removed and the lower end of the small intestine is modeled to the rectum.

ZOU