Here is a collection of some the latest research on the SCD Diet. We are so grateful for these researchers, hospitals and universities. Keep the good work up!
Rush University
Dr. Ece Mutlu has studied and is conducting an on-going study of the SCD Diet. We are proud to have her and her fabulous work in our hometown!
Here’s an except from the Journal “Gastroenterology and Endoscopy News” ISSUE: JANUARY 2014 | VOLUME: 65:1
Popular IBD Diet Associated With Increased Microbial Diversity by David Wild
San Diego—The specific carbohydrate diet (SCD), popular among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is associated with distinct changes in the intestinal microbiome, researchers at Rush University have found.
The trademarked SCD, as described by Elaine Gottschall, MSc, in her book, “Breaking the Vicious Cycle” (The Kirkton Press; 2012), is “predicated on the understanding that ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome and gluten therapy resistant celiac [disease] are the consequence of an overgrowth and imbalance of intestinal microbial flora.”
Ece Mutlu, MD, associate professor of medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, and her colleagues analyzed fecal samples from 20 patients with IBD who reported following the SCD and 20 patients with IBD who did not adhere to the diet: Each group included 10 patients with Crohn’s disease and 10 patients with ulcerative colitis. Some patients were receiving immunosuppressant medications at the time of fecal sample analysis.
Dr. Mutlu and her team performed 16S rDNA pyrosequencing and found that individuals in the SCD group had greater intestinal bacterial diversity compared with those in the control group, in addition to having a differing microbiome composition. The study was not designed to measure endoscopic and clinical disease activity, but Dr. Mutlu told Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News that she observed symptom relief in some patients following the diet.
“I have observed that a small number of my own IBD patients drastically improved on the SCD and achieved complete long-term mucosal healing, or were able to reduce or discontinue immunosuppressants for several years.”
These anecdotal observations and the findings from the study justify further investigation of the diet’s effect, said Dr. Mutlu, who presented the study at the American College of Gastroenterology 2013 Annual Scientific Meeting (poster 1619).
“A longitudinal study following IBD patients before the start of the diet, and during and after the SCD, would have been much harder for us to complete, but I think this should be done going forward and it could help us learn a lot more in the future.”
Seattle Children’s
We cannot say enough about Dr. David Suskind being a complete champion for SCD and Diet Therapy as medicine. Here is a fantastic article about him and the work he is pioneering. God Bless this man. He is continuing his research with the PRODUCE Study. Please don’t miss his page on the Nutrition in Immune Balance: NIMBAL and SCD treatment for IBD. Point your GI in the direction of his research, PLEASE!
Also – link to published study
U-Mass
Barbara Olendzki, professor of Medicine & Nutrition) leads the diet therapy research at UMass. While it has a slight variation to SCD, it is very close and near and dear to our Food is Medicine heart!
Stanford
Disease control may be attainable with the SCD in pediatric CD. Further studies are needed to assess adherence, impact on mucosal healing and growth.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4726683/
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Clinical and mucosal improvements were seen in children with CD, who used SCD for 12 and 52 weeks. In addition, CE can monitor mucosal improvement in treatment trials for pediatric CD. Further studies are critically needed to understand the mechanisms underlying SCD’s effectiveness in children with CD.