Does selenium supplementation improve Crohn's symptoms?

Selenium from Wikipedia

Selenium from the world's healthiest foods

"The serum concentrations of zinc, copper and selenium in children with inflammatory bowel disease" in Cent Afr J Med (2002)
"Children with IBD in this study show abnormalities of the trace elements which is probably a result of inadequate intake, reduced absorption, increased intestinal loss due to impairment of the absorption as a result of the inflammatory process. The reduced free radical scavenging action of zinc and selenium as a result of their deficiency may contribute to the continued inflammatory process of IBD. The recommendation of the supplementation of these trace elements in IBD is further supported by the findings of this study in children."

Does potassium supplementation improve Crohn's symptoms?

Potassium from Wikipedia

"Potential role of reduced basolateral potassium (IKCa3.1) channel expression in the pathogenesis of diarrhoea in ulcerative colitis" in The Journal of Pathology (2012)"Diarrhoea in ulcerative colitis (UC) mainly reflects impaired colonic Na+ [calcium] and water absorption. Colonocyte membrane potential, an important determinant of electrogenic Na+ absorption, is reduced in UC. Colonocyte potential is principally determined by basolateral IK [intermediate potassium] (KCa3.1) channel activity. ...
We conclude that a substantial decrease in basolateral IK channel expression and activity in active UC most likely explains the epithelial cell depolarization observed in this disease, and decreases the electrical driving force for electrogenic Na+ transport, thereby impairing Na+ absorption (and as a consequence, Cl− and water absorption) across the inflamed mucosa."

"The distribution of intermediate-conductance, calcium-activated, potassium (IK) channels in epithelial cells" in J. Anat (2006)
"Intermediate-conductance, calcium-activated, potassium (IK) channels were first identified by their roles in cell volume regulation, and were later shown to be involved in control of proliferation of lymphocytes and to provide a K+ current for epithelial secretory activity. Until now, there has been no systematic investigation of IK channel localization within different epithelia. IK channel immunoreactivity was present in most epithelia, where it occurred in surface membranes of epithelial cells. It was found in all stratified epithelia, including skin, cornea, oral mucosa, vaginal mucosa, urothelium and the oesophageal lining. It occurred in the ducts of fluid-secreting glands, the salivary glands, lacrimal glands and pancreas, and in the respiratory epithelium. A low level of expression was seen in serous acinar cells. It was also found in other epithelia with fluid-exchange properties, the choroid plexus epithelium, the ependyma, visceral pleura and peritoneum, bile ducts and intestinal lining epithelium. However, there was little or no expression in vascular endothelial cells, kidney tubules or collecting ducts, lung alveoli, or in sebaceous glands. It is concluded that the channel is present in surface epithelia (e.g. skin) where it has a cell-protective role against osmotic challenge, and in epithelia where there is anion secretion that is facilitated by a K+ current-dependent hyperpolarization. It was also in some epithelial cells where its roles are as yet unknown."

Does vitamin E supplementation improve Crohn's symptoms?

Vitamin E from Wikipedia

Vitamin E from CyberLipid Center
"The term "vitamin E" should be used for all tocopherol, tocotrienol and tocomonoenol derivatives exhibiting the biological activity of d-a-tocopherol. The term "tocopherol" should be used for all methyl tocols. Since tocotrienols have some vitamin E activity, "tocopherol" is not synonymous with "vitamin E"."

"Advanced Plan: Supplements" from Mercola.com
"Keep in mind that your body can easily distinguish between natural and synthetic vitamins, and natural vitamin E is between two and three times as bioactive as the same amount of synthetic vitamin E. Natural vitamin E is always listed as the "d-" form (d-alpha-tocopherol, d-beta-tocopherol, etc.). Synthetic vitamin E is listed as " dl-" forms.

But your optimal source for vitamin E is from your food. A 2002 study suggested that if you consume plenty of vegetables (about one pound of vegetables for every 50 pounds of body weight), the antioxidants in the vegetables may provide as much, or more, protection as vitamin E supplements."

"Adequacy of Nutritional Intake in a Canadian Population of Patients with Crohn’s Disease" in Journal of the American Dietetic Association (2007)
"Micronutrient intakes were suboptimal most notably for folate, vitamins C, E, and calcium. ...  In conclusion, in this population sample, a large number of ambulatory patients with Crohn’s disease have suboptimal dietary patterns despite a normal BMI and inactive disease. Dietary counseling and supplementation may be warranted in this patient population."

"Food intake in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease" in ABCD Arq Bras Cir Dig (2011) [full article]

"There was deficiency in food intake in both CD and UC in active and in remission. These deficiencies
are mainly related to the intake of macronutrients, energy and fiber and micronutrients, including ... tocopherol...."

"A Novel Water-Soluble Vitamin E Derivative Protects Against Experimental Colitis in Rats" in
Antioxidants & Redox Signaling (2008)

"This study was designed to investigate the effects of water-soluble vitamin E derivative, 2-(α-d-glucopyranosyl) methyl-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-6-ol (TMG), on experimental colitis in rats. ... These results suggest that TMG is effective for the treatment of colitis in rats induced by TNBS [trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid]."

Does 5-HTP supplementation improve Crohn's symptoms?

Hydroxytryptophan from Wikipedia

5-HTP from The University of Maryland Medical Center


"The serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan reinforces intestinal barrier function" from Top Institute Food and Nutrition, Wageningen [no date]
"Tight junctions between intestinal epithelial cells form a selective barrier that contributes to gut homeostasis. Alterations in intestinal barrier function are considered to be early factors in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). ... Oral administration of 5-HTP reinforces small intestinal barrier function by lowering intestinal sugar permeability, inducing the expression of the tight junction protein ZO-1 and rearranging tight junction proteins. These changes are associated with 5-HTP-induced alterations in mucosal serotonin metabolism. These data point to a role for serotonergic metabolism in reinforcing intestinal barrier function."

"Production and Peripheral Roles of 5-HTP, a Precursor of Serotonin" in Int J Tryptophan Res (2009) [full text]
"Physiological roles of 5-HTP in the brain have not been reported. On the other hand, 5-HTP has a specific function in the gut. As a unique BH4 [ 6R-L-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin] transport mechanism, BH4 that transiently enters cells can be rapidly oxidized to BH2 and is exported back to the extracellular space. Meanwhile, the intestinal epithelial cells take up BH4 as its reduced form. Therefore, the intestine shares a unique BH4 transporter mechanism and a specific function of 5-HTP. Further studies would clarify the intestine-specific machinery linking the specific mechanism of BH4-dependent 5-HTP production to the specific function of 5-HTP. A 5-HT precursor 5-HTP is sometimes administered to patients with metabolic disorder.27 The finding on the function of 5-HTP in the intestine might create an opportunity to explore the effects of exogenously-applied 5-HTP on the intestine in man."

"Gut hormones: emerging role in immune activation and inflammation" in Clinical and Experimental Immunology (2010) [full article]
"The studies discussed in this review provide evidence in favour of a key role of gut hormones in intestinal inflammation. In addition to the contribution in GI physiology, such as motility and secretion, gut hormones can also play an important role in immune activation and in the generation of inflammation in gut. The precise mechanisms by which gut hormones regulate the inflammation remain to be determined. The data generated from the studies on 5-HT in gut inflammation suggest strongly that increased 5-HT released by luminal inflammatory stimuli can activate immune cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells, lymphocytes and enteric nerves via specific 5-HT receptors, which can enhance the production of proinflammatory mediators via triggering activation of the NF-κB pathway and/or other possible proinflammatory signalling systems, and which subsequently can up-regulate the inflammatory response (Fig. 1). It will be interesting to see roles of specific 5-HT receptor subtype(s) in immune activation and generation of intestinal inflammation.
...
These studies provide novel information on the role of gut hormones in immune signalling and regulation of gut inflammation. Despite being a challenging and complicated area to explore, recent studies on immunoendocrine interaction has generated new interest to elucidate the role of gut hormones in the inflammatory process and immune function. In addition to enhancing our understanding on the pathogenesis of inflammatory changes, these studies give new information on 5-HT and Cgs [chromogranins] in the context of immunoendocrine interactions in gut and intestinal homeostasis. This is very important, due not only to the alteration in enteric endocrine cells functions observed in various GI inflammatory conditions but also in non-GI inflammatory disorders and functional GI disorders such as IBS. These data may have implications in understanding the role of gut hormone in the pathogenesis of both GI and non-GI inflammation, which may lead ultimately to improved therapeutic strategies in inflammatory disorders."

If 5-HTP improves intestinal barrier function, but serotonin stimulates Crohn' symptomology, how can this be reconciled? Is 5-HTP supplementation helpful or ultimately harmful?

See my post entitled Does serotonin production worsen Crohn's symptoms?"

Does acetylcysteine supplementation improve Crohn's symptoms?

Acetylcysteine aka N-acetylcysteine or N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) from Wikipedia

"Molecular evidences on the benefit of N-acetylcysteine in experimental colitis" in Central European Journal of Biology (2008)
"It is concluded that moderate to high doses of NAC improves cellular biomarkers of IBD in mice. Further studies should be trialled in humans suffering from two common inflammatory bowel disease called ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease."

"N-acetyl-L-cysteine combined with mesalamine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis: Randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study" in World J Gasterol (2008)
"In conclusion, the results of the present pilot study suggest that combined therapy (NAC and mesalamine) produces a clinical improvement of UC patients which correlates with a decrease of MCP-1 and IL8. However, the difference in clinical effect with respect to the control group (mesalamine alone) is not conclusive. NAC is safe and well tolerated."

Does krill oil improve Crohn's symptoms?

Krill oil from Wikipedia

"Dietary supplementation of krill oil attenuates inflammation and oxidative stress in experimental ulcerative colitis in rats" in Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology (2012)
"KO showed protective potential against DSS colitis based on the preservation of colon length, reduction of oxidative markers and the consistent beneficial changes of HCS, cytokine, and (PG)E3 levels, as well as PPAR-γ and Pparg1α expression compared with DSS alone. These findings indicate an anti-inflammatory and a protein antioxidant effect of KO."

Does increasing choline improve Crohn's symptoms?

Choline - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Choline is a water-soluble essential nutrient.[1][2][3][4][5] It is usually grouped within the B-complex vitamins."
"There is some evidence to suggest that choline is anti-inflammatory. In the ATTICA study, higher dietary intake of choline was associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers.[27] A small study found that choline supplements reduced symptoms of allergic rhinitis."
"Choline or betaine supplements also may reducehomocysteine.[38]"

Choline from the world's healthiest foods
"Food sources of choline include soybeans, egg yolk, butter, peanuts, potatoes, cauliflower, lentils, oats, sesame seeds and flax seeds."
"Mild deficiency of choline has also been linked to fatigue, insomnia, poor ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine, problems with memory, and nerve-muscle imbalances. Choline deficiency can also cause deficiency of another B vitamin critically important for health, folic acid."
"In addition to poor dietary intake of choline itself, poor intake of other nutrients can result in choline deficiency. These nutrients include vitamins B-3, folic acid, and the amino acid methionine. The reason that these other nutrients can cause choline deficiency inolves the unusual chemical structure of choline as a "trimethylated" molecule."

"Dietary choline and betaine intakes in relation to concentrations of inflammatory markers in healthy adults: the ATTICA study." in Am J Clin Nutr (2008)
"Compared with the lowest tertile of choline intake (<250 mg/d), participants who consumed >310 mg/d had, on average, 22% lower concentrations of C-reactive protein (P < 0.05), 26% lower concentrations of interleukin-6 (P < 0.05), and 6% lower concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P < 0.01). Similarly, participants who consumed >360 mg/d of betaine had, on average, 10% lower concentrations of homocysteine (P < 0.01), 19% lower concentrations of C-reactive protein (P < 0.1), and 12% lower concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P < 0.05) than did those who consumed <260 mg/d. These findings were independent of various sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics of the participants."

"Is there a new component of the Mediterranean diet that reduces inflammation?" in Am J Clin Nutr (2008)
" It is possible that epigenetic mechanisms, via the methylation of promoter regions of genes involved in inflammation, are responsible for the observed association between dietary choline and betaine and inflammation (7). Choline-deficient humans overexpress genes in the immune-inflammatory response and lymphocyte differentiation-activation gene ontology groupings (14). Exposure to oxidative stress is a potent trigger for inflammation. Betaine is formed from choline within the mitochondria, and this oxidation contributes to mitochondrial redox status. Choline deficiency is associated with leaky mitochondria, leakage of free radicals, and damage to DNA (15-17). Thus, there are multiple potential mechanisms whereby diets lower in choline and betaine might result in increases in biomarkers of inflammation in healthy humans. If the association between choline and betaine and inflammation can be confirmed in studies of other populations, an interesting new dietary approach may be available for reducing chronic diseases associated with inflammation."

Does stinging nettle reduce Crohn's symptoms?

Stinging Nettle from Wikipedia

"Ameliorative effect of IDS 30, a stinging nettle leaf extract, on chronic colitis" in International Journal of Colorectal Disease, Volume 20, Number 1 - SpringerLink
"The stinging nettle leaf extract, IDS 30, is an adjuvant remedy in rheumatic diseases dependent on a cytokine suppressive effect. ... The long-term use of IDS 30 is effective in the prevention of chronic murine colitis. This effect seems to be due to a decrease in the Th1 response and may be a new therapeutic option for prolonging remission in inflammatory bowel disease."

"The Effect of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) Seed Oil on Experimental Colitis in Rats" in Journal of Medicinal Food (2011)
"We found that UDO decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6], lactate dehydrogenase, triglyceride, and cholesterol, which were increased in colitis. UDO administration ameliorated the TNBS-induced [trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid ] disturbances in colonic tissue except for MDA [malondialdehyde]. In conclusion, UDO, through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions, merits consideration as a potential agent in ameliorating colonic inflammation."

Can supplements worsen Crohn's symptoms?

"Hidden hazards of vitamin and mineral tablets" by Zoltan Rona
"Other potentially harmful additives:  sodium benzoate, bht, bha, tartrazine, lactose, peanut oil, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, titanium dioxide, polysorbate 80, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, red dye no. 33 and 40, ethyl cellulose, sorbic acid, fractionated coconut oil and cornstarch."

Vitamin Supplements Associated With Increased Risk for Death

See my post Can Polysorbate 80 worsen Crohn's symptoms?

Does vitamin K supplementation improve Crohn's symptoms?

Vitamin K from Wikipedia

Vitamin K from the world's healthiest foods
"In terms of inflammatory response, several markers of pro-inflammatory activity - including, for example, release of interleukin-6 (IL-6) - are significantly lowered by healthy vitamin K levels."

"Vitamin K and Vitamin D Status: Associations with Inflammatory Markers in the Framingham Offspring Study" in Am J Epidemiol (2007)
"The observation that high vitamin K status was associated with lower concentrations of inflammatory markers suggests that a possible protective role for vitamin K in inflammation merits further investigation."

"Food intake in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease" in ABCD Arq Bras Cir Dig (2011) [full article]

"There was deficiency in food intake in both CD and UC in active and in remission. These deficiencies
are mainly related to the intake of macronutrients, energy and fiber and micronutrients, including ... menadione...."

Does vitamin C reduce Crohn's symptoms?

Vitamin C from Wikipedia

"Vitamin C treatment reduces elevated C-reactive protein" in Free Radical Biology and Medicine (2008)


"Adequacy of Nutritional Intake in a Canadian Population of Patients with Crohn’s Disease" in Journal of the American Dietetic Association (2007)
"Micronutrient intakes were suboptimal most notably for ...vitamins C....  In conclusion, in this population sample, a large number of ambulatory patients with Crohn’s disease have suboptimal dietary patterns despite a normal BMI and inactive disease. Dietary counseling and supplementation may be warranted in this patient population."

Does vitamin B6 supplementation improve Crohn's inflammation?

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) from Wikipedia

vitamin B6 from the world's healthiest foods
"Researchers are not yet clear on the mechanisms involved yet, but repeated studies show that vitamin B6 is required to minimize risk of unwanted inflammation in the body. It'xcs not only the case that ample intake of vitamin B6 is associated with decreased risk of excessive inflammation; it's also the fact that individuals with chronic, excessive inflammation need increased amounts of vitamin B6 in their diet."

Tuna is the best source of vitamin B6 overall with cod and halibut offering substantially less.  Best meat sources are beef and chicken, turkey, and venison.  Vegetable sources include potatoes (which are not recommended for a Crohn's diet, spinach, summer squash, turnip greens, and shiitake mushrooms.  The best seed source is sunflower seeds.  From the world's healthiest foods

"Homocysteinemia and B vitamin status among adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A one-year prospective follow-up study" in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (2011)
"30% of patients have vitamin B6 deficiency but vitamin B6 is not associated with elevated homocysteine."

"The Impact of Vitamin B6 Supplementation on Experimental Colitis and ColonicMucosal DNA Content in Female Rats Fed High Sucrose Diet" in Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences (2011)

"Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) plays several roles in the etiology and pathogenesis of chronic inflammation and
inflammatory diseases. It is water-soluble and preferentially absorbed in an acidic medium in the proximal
small intestine via simple diffusion. The vitamin role in inflammation can be observed on a number of
metabolic levels and in various pathologies (Zhang et al., 2006).

Vitamin B6 occurs in three forms: pyridoxal, pyridoxine, and pyridoxamine. It is part of coenzymes PLP (pyridoxal phosphate) and PMP (pyridoxamine phosphate) used in amino acid and fatty acid metabolism. It helps to convert tryptophan to niacin and to serotonin, and helps to make red blood cells. It also acts as a co-factor and antioxidant (Chen and Xiong, 2005).Recent studies are unveiling a new role of vitamin B6 as a chemopreventive agent. High levels of vitamin B6 have been reported to suppress growth of animal or human cancer cell in vitro (Valco et al., 2006).
Vitamin B6 seems to be associated with some defense mechanisms especially against lipid peroxidation in tissues, this process occurs when animals are totally lacked in vitamin B6 in the diet (Bordoni et al., 2006). Marginal vitamin B6 contents increased lipid peroxidation and considerably stimulated the activity of glutathione dependent enzymes. On the other hand, increased plasma and tissue lipid peroxidation has been reported in rats receiving a vitamin B6 deficient diet (Kayali and Tarhan, 2006).
Komatsu et al., 2001) postulated that, colorectal cancer risk might be reduced by moderate levels of dietary vitamin B6 daily consumed by humans. Thus, it has been considered that, overdoses of vitamin B6 may have potential use in antineoplastic therapy. A positive association between colon disease and the intake of dietary sources has been found in some human studies although evidence is still insuffient (Lindecrona et al., 2003).

...
The concurrent administration of vitamin B6 exhibited an intestinal anti-inflammatory effect, as evidenced
by a significant improvement of all biochemical parameters of colonic inflammation assayed in comparison
with both non-treated colitic rats and sucrose supplemented rats.  ... Thus, higher intake of vitamin B6 leads to higher blood levels of its active form, PLP [Pyridoxal-phosphate (PLP, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, P5P], which is in turn associated with lower levels of inflammatory molecule (Matxain, 2006).

...

Conclusion:
Vitamin B6 is believed to be protective against the DNA damage that can lead to cancers and is vital in
DNA synthesis and repair."

"Food intake in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease" in ABCD Arq Bras Cir Dig (2011) [full article]

"There was deficiency in food intake in both CD and UC in active and in remission. These deficiencies
are mainly related to the intake of macronutrients, energy and fiber and micronutrients, including ... pyridoxine..."

"Vitamin B-6 Intake Is Inversely Related to, and the Requirement Is Affected by, Inflammation Status" in J Nutr (2010)
" In conclusion, higher vitamin B-6 intakes were linked to protection against inflammation and the vitamin B-6 intake associated with maximum protection against vitamin B-6 inadequacy was increased in the presence compared to absence of inflammation."

Does zinc supplementation improve Crohn's symptoms?

Zinc from Wikipedia

Zinc from the world's healthiest foods

"Trace elements and vitamins at diagnosis in pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease" in Clin Pediatr (Phila) (2010)
"In newly diagnosed children with IBD, serum zinc levels are significantly lower compared with children without IBD."

"Zinc deficiency" in Current Opinion in Gastroenterology (2009)
"Zinc deficiency results in dysfunction of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity and increases the susceptibility to infection. Supplementation of zinc has been shown to reduce the incidence of infection as well as cellular damage from increased oxidative stress. Zinc deficiency is also associated with acute and chronic liver disease. Zinc supplementation protects against toxin-induced liver damage and is used as a therapy for hepatic encephalopathy in patients refractory to standard treatment. Zinc deficiency has also been implicated in diarrheal disease, and supplementation has been effective in both prophylaxis and treatment of acute diarrhea."

"The serum concentrations of zinc, copper and selenium in children with inflammatory bowel disease" in Cent Afr J Med (2002)
"Children with IBD in this study show abnormalities of the trace elements which is probably a result of inadequate intake, reduced absorption, increased intestinal loss due to impairment of the absorption as a result of the inflammatory process. The reduced free radical scavenging action of zinc and selenium as a result of their deficiency may contribute to the continued inflammatory process of IBD. The recommendation of the supplementation of these trace elements in IBD is further supported by the findings of this study in children."

Short report: zinc sulphate supplemen... [Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 1994] - PubMed - NCBI:
"Prior to zinc supplementation, the percentage of palmitic, stearic and oleic acids was significantly higher in Crohn's disease, while linoleic, arachidonic and n-3 fatty acids were reduced in Crohn's disease compared to healthy controls. Zinc supplementation abolished these pre-treatment differences in red-cell long-chain fatty acid profiles but did not affect plasma fatty acid values."

Does spirulina improve Crohn's symptoms?

Spirulina (dietary supplement) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Chlorella and Spirulina - superfoods for health:

SpirulinaSource.com
Resources (scientific abstracts) for Spirulina, Algae and Green Superfoods

Spirulina in Human Nutrition and Health By M. Eric Gershwin, Amha Belay

Living Comfortably With Crohn's Disease, How I Take Spirulina To Fight Crohns Disease

ALERT:  Contains about 10% Rhamnose sugar, which is a deoxy sugar, which does not conform with the guidelines of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet; however, the benefits may outweigh the risks for some people.

Benefits
antiviral properties with therapeutic potential

What are good sources of curcumin?

See the post entitled "Can Curcumin reduce the symptoms of CD?"

AOR CureCumin is a curcumin complex extracted from turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.), one of the most effective antioxidants and anti-inflammatories:

Does vitamin B12 supplementation improve the symptoms of Crohn's?

vitamin B12 on Wikipedia

Could it Be B12?  An Epidemic of Misdiagnosis?, Sally M. Pacholok, Jeffrey J. Stuart (2011)
"Presenting a wide scope of problems caused by B12 deficiency, this comprehensive guide provides up-to-date medical information about symptoms, testing, diagnosis, and treatment. Written for both the patient and the interested layperson, this detailed book outlines how physicians frequently misdiagnose B12 deficiency as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, mental retardation, Parkinson's disease, depression, or other mental illnesses. Now in the second edition, this resource has been thoroughly updated with the latest research, diagnostic tests, treatment options, case studies, and testimonials."

Could It Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses (9781884995699): Sally M. Pacholok RN, Jeffrey J. Stuart DO: Books

"B12 deficiency: a silent epidemic with serious consequences" from CHRIS KRESSER L.AC
MEDICINE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

Does magnesium supplementation improve Crohn's symptoms?

The Magnesium Website Online Library

Magnesium in biology from Wikipedia

Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet

Micronutrient Information Center, Magnesium from the Linus Pauling Institute

Magnesium from the world's healthiest foods
excellent sources: Swiss boiled chard, spinach
very good:  kelp, summer squash, turnip greens, mustard greens, raw pumpkin seeds, black strap molasses, steamed broccoli, baked/boiled halibut

Common Conditions That May Result from Low Magnesium Levels

Does antioxidant dietary supplementation lessen inflammation in CD?

Antioxidants on Wikipedia
"An antioxidant is a molecule capable of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals. In turn, these radicals can start chain reactions. When the chain reaction occurs in a cell, it can cause damage or death. ...
Although oxidation reactions are crucial for life, they can also be damaging; hence, plants and animals maintain complex systems of multiple types of antioxidants, such as glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E as well as enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase and various peroxidases. Low levels of antioxidants, or inhibition of the antioxidant enzymes, cause oxidative stress and may damage or kill cells"

Oxidative Stress on Wikipedia
"Oxidative stress represents an imbalance between the production and manifestation of reactive oxygen species and a biological system's ability to readily detoxify the reactive intermediates or to repair the resulting damage. Disturbances in the normal redox state of tissues can cause toxic effects through the production of peroxides and free radicals that damage all components of the cell, including proteins, lipids, and DNA. Some reactive oxidative species can even act as messengers through a phenomenon called redox signaling.
In humans, oxidative stress is involved in many diseases. Examples include Sickle Cell Disease^[1], atherosclerosis, Parkinson's disease, heart failure, myocardial infarction, Alzheimer's disease, Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, fragile X syndrome^[2] and chronic fatigue syndrome, but short-term oxidative stress may also be important in prevention of aging by induction of a process named mitohormesis.^[3] Reactive oxygen species can be beneficial, as they are used by the immune system as a way to attack and kill pathogens."

"Fish oil and antioxidants alter the composition and function of circulating mononuclear cells in Crohn disease" in Am J Clin Nutr (2004)
"Dietary supplementation with fish oil plus antioxidants is associated with modified PBMC [peripheral blood mononuclear cell]composition and lower production of PGE2 [prostoglandin E2] and IFN-y [Interferon Gamma] by circulating monocytes or macrophages."


"The Effects of an Oral Supplement Enriched With Fish Oil, Prebiotics, and Antioxidants on Nutrition Status in Crohn’s Disease Patients" in Nutrition in Clinical Practice (2011)
"Background: Research in the treatment of Crohn’s disease (CD) supports anti-inflammatory benefits of n-3 fatty acids from fish oil, prebiotics, and antioxidants. A nutritionally balanced inflammatory bowel disease nutrition formula (IBDNF) enriched with these compounds has the potential to improve nutrition status and disease activity in CD. ...
Conclusions: IBDNF has the potential to deposit fat-free and fat mass, improve vitamin D status, and improve quality of life in CD patients."

Does quercetin reduce Crohn's symptoms?

Quercetin on Wikipedia
" ... a plant-derived flavonoid found in fruits, vegetables, leaves and grains."

"Several laboratory studies show quercetin may have anti-inflammatory properties, and it is being investigated for a wide range of potential health benefits. From in vitro studies, quercetin has demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting both synthesis and release of histamine and other allergic/inflammatory mediators. In addition, it may have antioxidant activity and vitamin C-sparing action."

Other names: Sophoretin, Meletin, Quercetine, Xanthaurine, Quercetol, Quercitin, Quertine, Flavin meletin

Flavonoids from Wikipedia

Good sources of flavonoids include all citrus fruits, berries, ginkgo biloba, onions[28][29] (particularly red onion[30]), parsley,[31] pulses,[32] tea (especially white and green tea), red wine, seabuckthorn, anddark chocolate (with a cocoa content of seventy percent or greater).flavonoids, derived from 2-phenylchromen-4-one (2-phenyl-1,4-benzopyrone) structure (examples: quercetin, rutin).

Flavonoids (or bioflavonoids) (from the Latin word flavus meaning yellow), also collectively known as Vitamin P and citrin,[1] are a class of plant secondary metabolites or yellow pigments having a structure similar to that of flavones. According to the IUPAC nomenclature,[2] they can be classified into:
isoflavonoids, derived from 3-phenylchromen-4-one (3-phenyl-1,4-benzopyrone) structure
neoflavonoids, derived from 4-phenylcoumarine (4-phenyl-1,2-benzopyrone) structure.

neoflavonoids, derived from 4-phenylcoumarine (4-phenyl-1,2-benzopyrone) structure.

Good sources of flavonoids include all citrus fruits, berries, ginkgo biloba, onions[28][29] (particularly red onion[30]), parsley,[31] pulses,[32] tea (especially white and green tea), red wine, seabuckthorn, anddark chocolate (with a cocoa content of seventy percent or greater).

"Quercetin Inhibits TNF-Induced NF-?B Transcription Factor Recruitment to Proinflammatory Gene Promoters in Murine Intestinal Epithelial Cells" In American Society for Nutrition (2007)

"These studies support an anti-inflammatory effect of quercetin in epithelial cells through mechanisms that inhibit cofactor recruitment at the chromatin of proinflammatory genes."

"Influence of Quercetin Supplementation on Disease Risk Factors in Community-Dwelling Adults" in Journal of the American Dietetic Association (2011)

"Change in inflammatory measures did not differ between groups except for a slight decrease in interleukin-6 for the Q-1,000 group.

Conclusions
Q-500 or Q-1,000 supplementation for 12 weeks had a negligible influence on disease risk factors."

Do L-glutamine supplements reduce Crohn's symptoms?

Glutamine from Wikipedia
"The most eager consumers of glutamine are the cells of intestines...."

Glutamine from The University of Maryland Medical Center
"Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid (building block of protein) in the body. The body can make enough glutamine for its regular needs, but extreme stress (the kind you would experience after very heavy exercise or an injury), your body may need more glutamine than it can make. Most glutamine is stored in muscles followed by the lungs, where much of the glutamine is made.

...
Glutamine helps to protect the lining of the gastrointestinal tract known as the mucosa. For that reason, some have suggested that people who have inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn' s disease) may not have enough glutamine. However, 2 clinical trials found that taking glutamine supplements did not improve symptoms of Crohn' s disease. More research is needed."

"Dietary Factors in the Modulation of IBD: Glutamine" from Medscape Today
"Glutamine is sometimes advocated as being beneficial in the management of inflammation. Although not an essential amino acid, glutamine is believed to play a role in the maintenance of the colonic mucosal barrier, and is an energy substrate for colonic cells. ...
However, not all of the studies regarding glutamine show positive benefit in IBD. When administered in a trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced colitis model, there was actually a worsening of intestinal inflammation. Other studies in different models, however, have shown an improvement. As suggested by Akobeng and colleagues, there may be an optimal level of glutamine necessary for improvement; alteration from that level may have deleterious effects."

"Glutamine Prevents Fibrosis Development in Rats with Colitis Induced by 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid" in The Journal of Nutrition (2010)
"Our findings suggest that glutamine treatment not only attenuates the outcome of TNBS-induced colitis by reducing the inflammatory response but also by downregulating the increased expression of several gene pathways that contribute to the accumulation of matrix proteins. This molecule may be an interesting candidate for reducing the risk of fibrosis and stricture formation in inflammatory bowel disease."

"Glutamine and Whey Protein Improve Intestinal Permeability and Morphology in Patients with Crohn’s Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial" In Digestive Diseases and Sciences (2012)
"Glutamine, the major fuel for the enterocytes, may improve IP. ... [A] glutamine group (GG) or active control group (ACG) and were given oral glutamine or whey protein, respectively.... Intestinal permeability and morphology improved significantly in both glutamine and ACG."