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Many diseases are self-limiting, and they eventually run their course, and resolve without any need for intervention. I think I've discovered the reason why, (for many of us, at least), MC cannot do that - instead, it can only get worse. The key seems to lie in the fact that the disease causes changes in the body, which lead to immune system changes, that result in a self-perpetuating cycle, and this implies that for most of us, at least, MC can never be self-limiting. Bearing in mind that the autoimmune reaction which is attributed to be the cause of the inflammation that results in MC, is T-cell mediated, consider the conclusion of the following research report, (the red emphasis is mine, of course):
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2010/0 ... s.immunityFor the study, the researchers looked at specific biologic markers. A skin test used called DTH (delayed-type hypersensitivity) is a measure of immune response at the whole body level.
The researchers also examined effects of calorie restriction on function of T-cells--a major type of white blood cell--and other factors on the volunteer's immune system.
DTH and T-cell response indicate the strength of cell-mediated immunity. One positive was that DTH and T-cell proliferative response were significantly increased in both calorie-restrained groups.
These results show for the first time that short-term calorie restriction for six months in humans improves the function of T-cells.
http://biomedgerontology.oxfordjournals ... 7.abstract
Now, that research study was done on overweight, (but not obese), adults, so there is no guarantee that it would apply to any other weight-class of people, (and there is no reason to believe that it wouldn't, either). Consider the following research report, though, (which was done on monkeys, that were not overweight), (CR stands for caloric restriction):
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2659568/In summary, our results show that adulthood onset of CR in a nonhuman primate shows uniquely beneficial impact upon homeostasis and function of the T-cell compartment, suggesting the existence of an optimal window for CR efficacy. Additional studies will be required to evaluate the relative importance of these benefits and weigh them against the increase in life span and improved function of other organs or systems.
IOW, this research showed that T-cell response was also enhanced when monkeys were fed reduced calorie diets.
Now, neither one of these studies has anything to do with any specific disease, let alone, MC - in fact, the second study is connected with longevity studies. So how does this apply to us? Well, IMO, it suggests that when the level of our disease activity reaches the point where we begin to derive little benefit from the food we eat, (because of diarrhea and rapid transit), this is the equivalent of a calorie reduced diet, and it triggers increased T-cell activity, which, of course, results in even more inflammation. As the disease progresses, and, (for some of us, at least), malabsorption eventually becomes a problem, then this amounts to an even more severe form of calorie restriction. The significant threshold mentioned in these articles seems to be approximately a 30% calorie reduction, and I have no doubt that most of us suffer a calorie reduction in excess of that amount, when we are actively reacting.
So, the disease causes a significant loss of nutrient/calorie intake, (D), which causes increased T-cell activity, which increases the inflammation level, which, of course, causes even worse D, and so fourth and so on.
I'm sure that some of you are thinking, "yes, but not all of us lose weight, with MC". That's certainly true, but note that weight loss is not a prerequisite for enhanced T-cell activation - the only absolute requirement is caloric restriction, and if we have chronic D, with rapid transit, then we easily meet that requirement, regardless of whether we lose weight, or gain weight, with this disease.
This suggests to me, that the disease may begin with an "innocent-seeming" low level of inflammation, from virtually any cause, and if it happens to cause a prolonged episode of diarrhea, (or recurring episodes), then eventually, the diarrhea-induced caloric restriction will trigger increased T-cell response, and the self-perpetuating cycle will "lock in", and we will quickly become unable to break out of the cycle.
Furthermore, many of us tend to think of ourselves as having an overactive immune system. I have never been convinced of that concept. I'm not sure that it's even possible for the immune system to be overactive - it's a much more sophisticated system than meets the eye, and it's complexity is far, far beyond our comprehension. I believe that the immune system is doing exactly what it is programmed to do, in this situation. It "knows" that diarrhea is caused by something, (diarrhea doesn't just happen, for no reason - everything has a reason), and the increased T-cell response is a normal response to any adverse digestive event, that causes D - the T-cells are sent to search for infectious agents, and their job is to stand guard, as long as the threat exists. IOW, I believe that we have normal immune systems, IMO, (unless, of course, we suppress our immune systems with corticosteroids, or other immune-suppressing drugs).
At least, that's the way I see it. What do you think?
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