Targeted medical foods?

[Carole]

Just got an email from a site i visited when i first was researching foods for IBD. This is what it says - i'm sure they're trying to sell their products/services. Does anyone know what these "foods" might be...

"Managing IBD with a Targeted Medical Food & Dietary Changes
Traditionally, IBD is treated using steroidal medications or, in the most severe cases, surgery. However, targeted medical foods, in tandem with dietary changes, can help you effectively manage IBD.
Targeted medical foods. Certain medical foods (defined by the Food and Drug Administration as “prescribed by a physician when a patient has special nutrient needs in order to manage a disease or health condition”) contain key ingredients that can support the health of your digestive tract and immune system. These key ingredients can include:
 Reduced-iso-alpha acids (RIAA), a hops derivative with anti-inflammatory properties
 Low-allergy potential, readily-digestible protein and amino acids
 L-glutamine, an essential amino acid that supports the immune system and helps maintain a healthy gastrointestinal mucosa
 Turmeric (curcumin) and ginger, two spices that have long been recognized for their anti-inflammatory effects"
Carole

[Bifcus16]

Hi Carole,

I'll guess they are trying to sell you their particular "medical food", but I was interested in your list.

Turmeric and ginger are well known as Gi tract soothers, and there is some great research on the role of turmeric in fighting some cancers.

Glutamine caught my eye, and I did a bit of hunting.

There is an overview here:
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag99/sep99-report3.html
note the warnings for diabetics and some other conditions.

Research study shows glutamine reduces intestinal permeability and helps villi, under TPN:
http://pen.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/18/4/303

More research on glutamine reducing intestinal permeability with NSAIDS:
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/b ... 5/art00015

All of which makes it sound like something deserving of our study.

However, in an earlier discussion here, it was pointed out that some forms are made from wheat, and you need to be careful to get one that is gluten free:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... =glutamine


Lyn

[tex]

The term "medical food" is also applied to megadoses of certain vitamins, available by prescription only, such as the combination I described in this topic, (which I'm taking for the purpose of attempting to reverse damage due to peripheral neuropathy):

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10243

In general, medical foods are foods that are specially formulated for the dietary management of diseases that have distinct nutritional needs.

Tex