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'Accidental' magic cure for IBS--singapore news today

7K views 68 replies 12 participants last post by  Talissa 
#1 ·
"OVER-the-counter pills which are usually used to counter jet lag may be a magic potion for people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).While researching IBS, doctors here stumbled on the discovery that melatonin may be the key to help thousands of people who suffer from the disease.IBS hits both young and old, and doctors estimate about 10 per cent of Singaporeans suffer from it.Victims complain of abdominal pain and experience frequent diarrhoea or constipation, which can be triggered by eating certain foods or even stress.Associate Professor Ho Khek Yu of the National University of Singapore (NUS) department of medicine, who is also a consultant gastroenterologist at the National University Hospital, said as many as half of all patients who seek treatment of such symptoms suffer from IBS.Anecdotally, he found many of his IBS patients complained of poor sleep as well.So he set out to find a link by measuring the amount of melatonin - a substance produced by the pineal gland in the brain, which gets people to sleep - produced by those who suffer from IBS.The result: Those with the disease secreted less melatonin in their saliva.The next step was to make sure it was melatonin levels, rather than amount of sleep, that made a difference to patients.Prof Ho hooked up several volunteers to machines and sensors at night to measure the amount and quality of sleep they got before and after a round of melatonin treatment.What happened next came as a surprise.Prof Ho, who worked with Mr Song Guanghui, a PhD student at NUS, found that, although volunteers' sleep patterns remained the same with or without melatonin, patients who received even small amounts of the hormone experienced less abdominal pain and diarrhoea.This meant the researchers had proved a commonly held hypothesis in the scientific world - that there is a connection between the brain and the bowel.Said Prof Ho: 'The prevailing theory is that an IBS patient has very sensitive nerve endings in the intestines, so he feels more pain.'There is a very complicated relationship between the intestines and the brain. Some call the bowel the second brain, because there are so many hormones produced by the brain that are received by the gut, and vice versa.'The discovery is an important one in science, and Prof Ho will present his findings at a European scientific conference next month.It is even more important for patients, who may have found a cheap, over-the-counter cure for their affliction, thanks to Prof Ho's work.Research is ongoing to measure stress levels and their relationship to IBS.This time, Prof Ho and his team are working with neurology diagnostic specialists at the Singapore General Hospital.They will compare brain scans of IBS patients and healthy volunteers to see how their brains react to stimuli to the gut and medication.Prof Ho explained: 'If the theory works, whatever treatment we administer can be targeted at the exact cause of IBS, even if it resides in the brain.'Eventually, it will mean better drugs that will solve the problem, instead of the current situation where doctors are frequently frustrated because we cannot really help the patient, but can only treat the symptoms.' " http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/techscien...,269047,00.html Another one??Anyone try melatonin?
 
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#8 ·
v76, I wish they'd given the dosage too. And it's too bad they are more excited abt parlaying this into a drug, rather than as an inexpensive OTC to help ease pain & diarrhea(can't patent it tho, no $$$).But then if Ken is right, it may not help with pain anyways!I haven't had pain since taking probiotics and modifying my diet...and the D was lessened that way too. Metamucil ended the diarrhea.But we're all diff, and this may just help some IBSr's.
 
#9 ·
v76, I wish they'd given the dosage too. And it's too bad they are more excited abt parlaying this into a drug, rather than as an inexpensive OTC to help ease pain & diarrhea(can't patent it tho, no $$$).But then if Ken is right, it may not help with pain anyways!I haven't had pain since taking probiotics and modifying my diet...and the D was lessened that way too. Metamucil ended the diarrhea.But we're all diff, and this may just help some IBSr's.
 
#11 ·
Yeah,my sleep is sick.Yeah the hormons plays a role.Bla,bla,bla.Who knows?Quote:"OVER-the-counter pills which are usually used to counter jet lag may be a magic potion for people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).What is "jet lag"?
I'm ready to go to Mars to get cure.
 
#10 ·
Yeah,my sleep is sick.Yeah the hormons plays a role.Bla,bla,bla.Who knows?Quote:"OVER-the-counter pills which are usually used to counter jet lag may be a magic potion for people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).What is "jet lag"?
I'm ready to go to Mars to get cure.
 
#12 ·
What is the OTC they talk about?Worth to try if we know which OTC and which dosage.I can't wait to try something like that.
 
#13 ·
What is the OTC they talk about?Worth to try if we know which OTC and which dosage.I can't wait to try something like that.
 
#18 ·
The only one week remission i had in ALL those years was when i was in jail(5 days).Why?Low fructose diet?Maybe.Sleeping all the time?No.I suspect they put drug to relax the prisonners in the food.After eating we were all sleepy.
 
#16 ·
The only one week remission i had in ALL those years was when i was in jail(5 days).Why?Low fructose diet?Maybe.Sleeping all the time?No.I suspect they put drug to relax the prisonners in the food.After eating we were all sleepy.
 
#20 ·
Spasman, you were in jail? Our sweet, fun-loving canadian? And it put your IBS in remission--hmmm, maybe I'll go rob a bank, not do a very swift job of it, see if jail is the answer!!
Actually, this melatonin may not be so pie in the sky. Its a hormone, but also an anti-oxidant, which means its anti-inflammatory:Biol Signals Recept. 2001 "Melatonin is probably produced in the serotonin-rich enterochromaffin cells (EC) of the GI mucosa and can be released into the portal vein postprandially. In addition, melatonin can act as an autocrine or a paracrine hormone affecting the function of GI epithelium, lymphatic tissues of the immune system and the smooth muscles of the digestive tube. Finally, melatonin may act as a luminal hormone, synchronizing the sequential digestive processes. Higher peripheral and tissue levels of melatonin were observed not only after food intake but also after a long-term food deprivation. Such melatonin release may have a direct effect on the various GI tissues but may also act indirectly via the CNS; such action might be mediated by sympathetic or parasympathetic nerves. Melatonin can protect GI mucosa from ulceration by its antioxidant action, stimulation of the immune system and by fostering microcirculation and epithelial regeneration. Melatonin may reduce the secretion of pepsin and the hydrochloric acid and influence the activity of the myoelectric complexes of the gut via its action in the CNS. Tissue or blood levels of melatonin may serve as a marker of GI lesions or tumors. Clinically, melatonin has a potential for a prevention or treatment of colorectal cancer, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, children colic and diarrhea. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.f...t_uids=11721091 The foggy brain, Steve, is a bit unsettling though!
 
#21 ·
Spasman, you were in jail? Our sweet, fun-loving canadian? And it put your IBS in remission--hmmm, maybe I'll go rob a bank, not do a very swift job of it, see if jail is the answer!!
Actually, this melatonin may not be so pie in the sky. Its a hormone, but also an anti-oxidant, which means its anti-inflammatory:Biol Signals Recept. 2001 "Melatonin is probably produced in the serotonin-rich enterochromaffin cells (EC) of the GI mucosa and can be released into the portal vein postprandially. In addition, melatonin can act as an autocrine or a paracrine hormone affecting the function of GI epithelium, lymphatic tissues of the immune system and the smooth muscles of the digestive tube. Finally, melatonin may act as a luminal hormone, synchronizing the sequential digestive processes. Higher peripheral and tissue levels of melatonin were observed not only after food intake but also after a long-term food deprivation. Such melatonin release may have a direct effect on the various GI tissues but may also act indirectly via the CNS; such action might be mediated by sympathetic or parasympathetic nerves. Melatonin can protect GI mucosa from ulceration by its antioxidant action, stimulation of the immune system and by fostering microcirculation and epithelial regeneration. Melatonin may reduce the secretion of pepsin and the hydrochloric acid and influence the activity of the myoelectric complexes of the gut via its action in the CNS. Tissue or blood levels of melatonin may serve as a marker of GI lesions or tumors. Clinically, melatonin has a potential for a prevention or treatment of colorectal cancer, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, children colic and diarrhea. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.f...t_uids=11721091 The foggy brain, Steve, is a bit unsettling though!
 
#23 ·
Is there anyone who see a small typing BB?I'm almost blinded by that!!!!
 
#22 ·
Is there anyone who see a small typing BB?I'm almost blinded by that!!!!
 
#24 ·
Sorry Spas~"Clinically, melatonin has a potential for a prevention or treatment of colorectal cancer, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, children colic and diarrhea. "PS. Found this re: dosing~"Melatonin is an immune booster, cancer fighter, mood elevator, and a natural sleeping pill. Dosage varies tremendously from person to person. While the �standard� dose commonly found over the counter is 3 mg, some need 0.3 mg while others may need much more to work. For many, a lower dose (0.5 mg) actually works better than the commonly seen over the counter 3 mg dose." http://www.lammd.com/book/chapter3.cfm
 
#25 ·
Sorry Spas~"Clinically, melatonin has a potential for a prevention or treatment of colorectal cancer, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, children colic and diarrhea. "PS. Found this re: dosing~"Melatonin is an immune booster, cancer fighter, mood elevator, and a natural sleeping pill. Dosage varies tremendously from person to person. While the �standard� dose commonly found over the counter is 3 mg, some need 0.3 mg while others may need much more to work. For many, a lower dose (0.5 mg) actually works better than the commonly seen over the counter 3 mg dose." http://www.lammd.com/book/chapter3.cfm
 
#26 ·
Talissa,i mean all the text are smaller than before i set up my computer.Do you see that since few days???????????Or it's just me?
 
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