Visit the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Website
is MC hereditary?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
is MC hereditary?
Now that I have been diagnosed with MC, and I have been reading a lot on here, I have seen that there are certain genes that make us predisposed for this. I have 3 children, 20,18, and 16. Do I need to have them tested for this gene or is there testing that they can have to see if they are predisposed to have this? I would love to keep them from going through what I am going through ever in their lives.
Most of the population has gluten sensitive genes, and 40% have the genes that predispose to full-blown celiac disease (HLA DQ2 or 8). I have both and so does one of my kids (I haven't tested the other yet). I don't think folks here believe MC is hereditary, but we acknowledge it can happen when we ignore signs of gluten intolerance or leaky gut (in combination with these genes). MC often strikes after years of IBS-like symptoms or other triggers like GI infections, antibiotic use, stress, or NSAID overuse.
I think I'd be less concerned if I developed MC when my kids were older. I worry for my kids because I developed MC when they were very young, and I believe they were exposed to my altered gut flora at birth and during breast feeding. I think that increases their likelihood of having their gluten-sensitive genes triggered early. As it is, both kids have very soft stools...so I worry...and plan to have them tested this year (at least for celiac).
I think I'd be less concerned if I developed MC when my kids were older. I worry for my kids because I developed MC when they were very young, and I believe they were exposed to my altered gut flora at birth and during breast feeding. I think that increases their likelihood of having their gluten-sensitive genes triggered early. As it is, both kids have very soft stools...so I worry...and plan to have them tested this year (at least for celiac).
Dawn,
To add to what Zizzle posted, while it's true that our genetics will determine whether or not we develop MC, (or some other disease), IMO, it's primarily environmental effects, and our lifestyle, that initially cause the disease to develop.
Tex
To add to what Zizzle posted, while it's true that our genetics will determine whether or not we develop MC, (or some other disease), IMO, it's primarily environmental effects, and our lifestyle, that initially cause the disease to develop.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.