• Ulcerative Colitis - is also an Inflammatory Bowel Disease and is associated with inflammation and ulcers in the inner lining of the colon and rectum. People who suffer from ulcerative colitis usually alternate between periods of flare ups and remission, often influenced by stress, diet or illness. Symptoms include rectal bleeding, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping and an urgent need to empty the bowels.
  
  Life Extension Foundation Recommendations
  First-line therapy for inflammatory bowel disease involves lifestyle changes and supplementation with valuable nutrients. A strong multivitamin is recommended to provide the basic nutrition needed. It is important to reinoculate the intestine with beneficial bacteria. Also, patients should be aware that many people with inflammatory bowel disease are anemic to some degree and should carefully monitor their iron levels. If iron levels are low, supplementation with iron is recommended. A standard dose is 15 mg/day of elemental iron. Inflammatory bowel disease is also strongly associated with elevated homocysteine levels. Blood testing is recommended to make sure homocysteine levels remain in safe ranges. For more information, see the chapter Homocysteine.
  
  People who have Crohn's disease may respond to the 4-R Program:
   
• Remove all suspicious and proinflammatory foods, including processed foods and refined sugar. Also, foods high in saturated fat and trans fat should be removed. Instead, focus on intake of healthier fats, such as olive oil.
• Replace any missing nutrients with a high-potency multivitamin (and other nutrients as needed).
• Reinoculate the intestine with beneficial bacteria by taking L acidophilus and L bulgaricus with fructose oligosaccharides.
• Repair the inner wall of the damaged intestine with supplements that have been shown to support the integrity of the intestinal wall itself, including glutamine, zinc, vitamin C, and fructose oligosaccharides.
• Specific supplements that have been shown to help reduce the symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel disease include:
  
  GLUTAMINE—1000 to 3000 milligrams (mg)/day
  PRIMAL DEFENSE—300 mg, three times daily, of Life Flora, or 900 mg, three times daily, of Primal Defense. Both products contain beneficial bacteria. It's suggested to start with a single dose and gradually add more.
  ZINC—30 mg/day
  Vitamin C—1000 to 3000 mg/day
  Vitamin E—400 International Units (IU)/day with at least 200 mg of gamma-tocopherol
  Vitamin K—10 mg/day
  Vitamin B COMPLEX—A complete B-complex vitamin that includes high potencies of all the essential B vitamins including B1, B3, B6, and B12
  SELENIUM—200 micrograms (mcg)/day
  ARGININE—1800 to 5400 mg/day
  Butyrate enemas—Two enemas a day are suggested for patients who have ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease that affects their lower colon.
  EPA/DHA—At least 1400 mg/day of EPA and 1000 mg/day of DHA
  Gamma Linolenic acid (GLA)—900 to 1800 mg/day
  Ginger extract—250 mg/day
  SOLUBLE FIBER BLEND—5 to 15 grams (g)/day during remission periods
  DHEA—Start with 15 to 75 mg (in 3 to 6 weeks have blood tested to make sure optimal blood levels are maintained)
  FOLIC ACID—800 micrograms (mcg)/day (in addition to the folic acid that is in the B-complex vitamin)
  
  Because of the association between inflammatory bowel disease and osteoporosis, people with inflammatory bowel disease are encouraged to carefully monitor their bone density. For more information on supplements that can help prevent osteoporosis.
  
  Also, based on the association between colitis and colon cancer, patients are encouraged to closely monitor their colon health through regular screening. For more information on colon cancer screening and prevention, see the chapter Colon Cancer. Supplementation with folic acid and vitamin B12 (800 mcg of folic acid and 300 mcg of vitamin B12) has been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer.
  
  Inflammatory Bowel Disease Safety Caveats
  An aggressive program of dietary supplementation should not be launched without the supervision of a qualified physician. Several of the nutrients suggested in this protocol may have adverse effects. These include:
  
  DHEA
  Do not take DHEA if you could be pregnant, are breastfeeding, or could have prostate, breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer.
  DHEA can cause androgenic effects in woman such as acne, deepening of the voice, facial hair growth and hair loss.
  EPA/DHA
  
  Consult your doctor before taking EPA/DHA if you take warfarin (Coumadin). Taking EPA/DHA with warfarin may increase the risk of bleeding.
  Discontinue using EPA/DHA 2 weeks before any surgical procedure.
  
  Fiber
  Take fiber supplements with a full 8-ounce glass of water.
  Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily while taking fiber.
  Folic Acid
  
  Consult your doctor before taking folic acid if you have a vitamin B12 deficiency.
  Daily doses of more than 1 milligram of folic acid can precipitate or exacerbate the neurological damage caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency.
  
  Ginger
  Do not take ginger if you have a bile duct obstruction or gallstones. Ginger may stimulate bile production.
  High doses of ginger (6 grams or more) can cause damage to the stomach lining and ulcers.
  Ginger can cause an allergic skin reactions.
  Consult your doctor before taking ginger if you take blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin). Ginger can increase the risk of bleeding.
  
  GLA
  Consult your doctor before taking GLA if you take warfarin (Coumadin). Taking GLA with warfarin may increase the risk of bleeding.
  Discontinue using GLA 2 weeks before any surgical procedure.
  GLA can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea.
  
  L-Arginine
  Do not take L-arginine if you have the rare genetic disorder argininemia.
  Consult your doctor before taking L-arginine if you have cancer. L-arginine can stimulate growth hormone.
  Consult your doctor before taking L-arginine if you have kidney failure or liver failure.
  Consult your doctor before taking L-arginine if you have herpes simplex. L-arginine may increase the possibility of recurrence.
  
  L-Glutamine
  Consult your doctor before taking L-glutamine if you have kidney failure or liver failure.
  L-glutamine can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea.

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