Please read medical disclaimer below, and consult your personal health care provider prior to acting upon the information provided in this article, protocol, or website.

Discussion

Inflammatory bowel disease classically includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis; and though they have similar symptoms, they are completely different diseases.  As opposed to Crohn’s disease, which can manifest anywhere along the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract from the mouth to the anus, ulcerative colitis is restricted to the large intestine (colon).

Oxidative Damage and Inflammation of the Intestinal Wall

Inflammation, which involves significant oxidative stress, or free radical damage, within the mucosal and submucosal layers of the large intestine, leads to abdominal pain and cramping, and bouts of severe bloody diarrhea, as well as fatigue and weight loss.

Signs and Symptoms of ULCERATIVE COLITIS

• Frequent diarrhea.
• Blood in the stool, as well as bleeding.
• Sudden urge for a bowel movement.
• Feeling of incomplete evacuation of the bowel after bowel movement.
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever, likely due to infection in the intestinal wall.
• Night Sweats
• Fatigue, due to inflammation and/or infection.
• Reduced appetite and weight loss. Abdominal pain and inflammation in the intestinal wall decreases one’s appetite.
• Loss of menstruation in women due to inflammation and low body weight.

The good news about all these symptoms is that most, if not all can be significantly reduced in major part by the use of proper nutritional supplementation. Other lifestyle changes must be employed, but none of them can have the effect without the supplementation outlined in my protocol below.

Possible Associated Complications

• Significant blood loss
• Dehydration
• Bowel perforation
• Sepsis
• Inflammation of the skin, joints and eyes
• Toxic megacolon
• Colon cancer
• Thrombosis
• Osteoporosis
• Liver disease, which is rare

CAUSE: Understanding Autoimmune Development and Why Steroids are Not the Answer

Autoimmune diseases have a genetic component and require one or more triggers from the environment, food, bacteria, toxins, stress, etc. Genetic defects in at least one protein type of the tight junction between intestinal epithelial cells have been identified, which appears to be one cause of hyper-permeability. (2) This may be an initiating factor, that is, a genetic susceptibility of specific and unique proteins to be damaged by free radicals, i.e., oxidative damage.

The immune system recognizes “self” from foreign invaders (bacteria, viruses, or other people’s organs) by the unique 3-dimensional configuration of proteins along the surface of cell membranes. If the immune system does not recognize the 3-dimensional shape as “self,” then an immune response is mounted against those proteins, whether they are proteins from bacteria, viruses, transplanted organs, or one’s own cells with damaged, or altered proteins.

Molecules, such as proteins, are held in their own unique 3-dimensional configuration by electronic charges of the atoms making up the molecule. The stripping away of electrons by free radicals, which is oxidation, changes the bond from atom to atom, which changes the 3-dimensional configuration of the molecule — in this case, the protein.

With free radical oxidation, there is no loss of atoms in the protein. All the atoms are accounted for when tested by electrophoresis. However, what cannot be accounted for via electrophoresis is the change in electronic bonds between the atoms that have been altered by oxidation, resulting in a 3-dimensional molecular reconfiguration. A change in the configuration of the protein can alter its function AND make the damaged protein appear ”foreign” to the immune system.  To the immune system, your damaged proteins appear “non-self.”  In fact, they are treated as if they were a foreign, invading bacteria. They are attacked and destroyed.

As the intestinal cells continue to make new proteins, replacing the damaged proteins, these too are oxidized by free radicals, and therefore altered and made to appear foreign to the immune system; and the immune attack continues.  Immuno-suppressant drugs are employed to slow the immune response, but that is not treating the root of the problem.

If we assume that the immune system is normal and simply doing what it is designed to do, that is, seek and destroy foreign proteins, then why try to suppress a normally functioning immune system with corticosteroids or other immuno-suppressants?

What if it were possible to protect the genetically susceptible proteins from being altered so they do not appear “foreign” to the immune system? The immune system would recognize a correctly configured “self” protein and would NOT mount an immune attack. This is the very key to managing ALL autoimmune disorders: (a) protect the proteins in whatever tissue is being attacked from being damaged, by reducing or eliminating the causative factors that increase free radicals, and (b) use antioxidants to protect cellular proteins from the baseline free radicals generated by normal cellular metabolism. (9)

The cells will create new proteins on the cell membranes to replace the damaged proteins, and as long as they are not oxidized, they will function normally, will not have their 3-dimensional shape altered, and will not trigger an autoimmune response. There will be no inflammation, no pain, no cramping, no diarrhea, no scarring, no obstruction; and the intestinal cells will absorb nutrients properly. The person will not be cured, but if he is living a high-quality life, what is the difference? This is exactly what I have been witnessing for over 20 years with the use of broad-spectrum, potent nutritional supplement protocols, particularly high doses of grape seed extract, which is both safe and effective. My adage has been, “keep increasing the dose of grape seed extract until you get the effect you want.”

Grape Seed Extract and Other Polyphenolic Antioxidants

Grape seed extract is an essential component of the protocol for ulcerative colitis, as well as for all other autoimmune diseases, because it protects proteins of the body from being damaged by free radical oxidation. Grape seed extract and other polyphenolic antioxidants are also powerful inhibitors of the Cox-2 enzyme, involved in the inflammatory process.

Grape seed extract, resveratrol, curcumin (turmeric extract), green tea extract, olive extract, resveratrol, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (boosting glutathione) and many other antioxidants all help prevent excessive oxidation and inflammation, resulting in less autoimmune flare-ups in all autoimmune disorders, including ulcerative colitis.

Probiotics are Critical for Healing the Gut

The microbiome of the gut can be considered another organ of the body.  Weighing nearly three pounds, and comprised of a diverse species of bacteria numbering in the 50 – 100 trillion range, the microbiome is considered the “rain forest” of the body.  It is an intricate balance of friendly bacteria with which we have a symbiotic relationship in order to maintain a healthy digestive tract and proper digestion.

The microbiome plays a much larger role than just assisting digestion.  It is a key component in maintaining a healthy immune system, producing serotonin for mood enhancement and even helping to maintain healthy skin.

Antibiotics, eating unhealthy foods, stress, lack of sleep, coffee, alcohol, lack of hormones, and many other factors can alter the balance of bacteria in the bowel.

In ulcerative colitis, the bacteria are not only unbalanced, but they make their way beneath the hyper-permeable epithelial layer and trigger inflammation. Improving the intestinal microbiome with supplementation with probiotics is a critical component for the treatment and management of ulcerative colitis.

In my protocol I recommend probiotic strains that scientific studies have backed as the two most important strains to replace in order to establish a foundation for growth of numerous other bacterial strains: Lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG, and Bifidobacterium BB-12.

Numerous probiotic strains are available, many of which have very little-to-no clinical data regarding their benefit or physiological activity. The two strains above are indicated by numerous human trials to prove viability and benefit in humans. They are designed for long shelf life and importantly, to withstand the harsh acidic environment of the stomach, so they can pass into the intestines intact. There they multiply and create a healthy environment for the microbiome to flourish.

Probiotics help heal the hyper-permeable intestinal lining, which reduces inflammation and immune activation. (19)

Other Micronutrient Supplements

The amino acids L-glutamine and L-arginine help heal the intestinal hyper-permeability seen in ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and leaky gut syndrome. (20 – 22) You will see that I have incorporated these amino acids in my protocol below.

Reducing stress and getting quality sleep are also important components for reducing oxidative stress and healing the body. DHEA helps counter the effects of high cortisol levels and is dubbed “the youth hormone,” as it acts on all cells in the body to help keep them functioning as if they were young. This includes the brain, the heart, the muscles, the liver, and the bowel.

One small study involving 33 men with either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, found that DHEA levels were lower than in healthy individuals. The men given 200 mg of DHEA per day showed significant improvements in the inflammatory bowel diseases, including remission. (23)

DHEA is also a precursor hormone in the production of testosterone. A case-control study involving women from the Nurses’ Health Study found that those women with the lowest concentration of androgenic hormones, such as testosterone, had a greater incidence of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. (24)  However, like all the other supplements, no single ingredient should be relied upon for a life-changing effect.

Another important hormone that declines with aging is melatonin.

Melatonin not only helps induce quality, restorative sleep, it is also a powerful antioxidant and contributes to overall health and reduction of inflammation.  I have always recommended nightly melatonin supplementation to healthy individuals to maintain brain health, reduce stress, and trigger the cascade of hormones involved in the circadian rhythms, such as the release of hypothalamic hormones, serotonin, dopamine, growth hormone, and thyroid stimulating hormone, ACTH to stimulate the production of DHEA. But especially when a patient’s melatonin drops off precipitously, supplementing with melatonin in combination with the other supplements can be helpful in the management of ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and Leaky Gut Syndrome. (25)

Omega-3 fatty acids, as from fish oil, have been shown to help alleviate symptoms of inflammatory bowel disorders. (26) Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor, and other inflammatory factors. They also are used in the repair of the cellular membranes. As a bonus, they also help with mood and brain functioning.

Choosing a quality fish oil supplement is important, especially since ConsumerLab.com found that out of the fish oil brands they evaluated, approximately 30 percent of them had some problems, e.g., rancidity, lower concentration of EPA and DHA (the omega-3 fatty acids) than stated on the label, and contamination with PCBs. PCBs are toxins that are known to cause cancer, as well as to disrupt hormones and neurotransmitters.

Conclusion

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that can be managed with proper nutritional supplementation. Oxidation by bacteria, toxins, food additives, sweeteners (aspartame), stress, etc., increase the damage to the genetically susceptible proteins in the intestinal lining and cause an inflammatory response and ulcerations.  Antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, melatonin, DHEA can all help reduce the progression and even induce remission of ulcerative colitis.

The supplement protocol combined with avoidance of toxic foods and substances, reduction in stress, and adequate sleep, can help prevent, alleviate, and possibly even reverse most of the consequences of ulcerative colitis.

Supplement Protocol for Ulcerative Colitis:

The more serious and complicated your case of ulcerative colitis, the greater the indication for the optimal protocol to be employed for optimal results. People want life-changing results. This is available to those who incorporate the protocol, including the principles discussed in the article.  A very real possibility exists that immune-suppressant drugs may not be necessary.  Of course, you will have to work with your doctor on this.

Since high doses of grape seed extract (more than 200 mg per day) can “thin” the blood, meaning that it takes longer for the blood to clot and stop bleeding, if there is any suspected bleeding, it would be wise to cease intake of grape seed extract, and consider starting again at least one week after bleeding has stopped, or advised by one’s doctor.  If there is active bleeding or hemorrhaging, it is best to stop all intake of supplements, and immediately call one’s doctor or emergency services, respectively.

Please read medical disclaimer below, and consult with your health care provider prior to acting upon information provided within this website, article, or protocol.

Minimal Protocol for Ulcerative Colitis

Basic Protocol for Ulcerative Colitis

Average Protocol for Ulcerative Colitis

Advanced Protocol for Ulcerative Colitis

• AM: With, or after breakfast
• Noon: At lunchtime with food, or shortly thereafter
• PM: Late afternoon with food, or at, or after dinner
• Please see my list of ingredients (below) that I like to see provided by a foundational vitamin and mineral supplement, as well as what is in the liver health supplement I use.
• Booster Antioxidant Supplement, with each tablet providing 50 mg Pterocarpus marsupium extract (containing pterostilbene), 10 mg Olive Fruit Extract, 75 mg alpha lipoic acid (ALA), and 60 mg Quercetin.
• Liver Support Supplement, providing Milk Thistle Extract, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Broccoli Extract, Turmeric Extract (Curcumin), Olive Extract, Green Tea Extract, Biotin
• Beta Glucan Supplement, derived from the extracts of the Reishi and Shiitake Mushroom, as well as Baker’s Yeast Extract.
• Probiotics, at least take 12 billion colony-forming bacteria, providing Lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG® and Bifidobacterium BB12®, every other day or daily.
• The amino acids L-Glutamine and L-Arginine, as well as DHEA, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine, and Ultra-Lipoic Forte can be purchased from Douglas Labs by first creating a customer account by CLICKING HERE.  (If this link does not work for you, simply type “douglaslabs.com/patient-account” into a new browser tab.) Please use Referral Code 2074214.

Ingredients that I like to see provided collectively by vitamin-antioxidant & chelated mineral tablets

Vitamin A, mostly as Beta Carotene
Vitamin C
Vitamin D3
Vitamin E
Vitamin K (K1 & K2)
B-Complex Vitamins
Curcumin (turmeric extract)
Quercetin
Green Tea Extract
Olive Extract
Rutin
Resveratrol
Choline
Lutein
Lycopene
N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC)
Calcium
Magnesium
Iodine (as potassium iodide)
Zinc
Selenium
Copper
Manganese
Chromium
Molybdenum
Including Ultra Trace Minerals

Medical Disclaimer

Information on this website, written, spoken, or in any other communication by Dr. Ladd McNamara or any other information or reference is for informational purposes only. The information provided on this website is a result of years of practice, experience, and study by the author. This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by someone’s personal licensed physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. Do not use the information on this website, or any other form of communication from Dr. Ladd McNamara or the Dr. Ladd VIP Program, for diagnosing or treatment of a health issue or disease, or for the prescribing of medication or the use of supplementation without a discussion with your licensed health professional first.  At best, the information provided on this website is only meant to supplement information provided by your own doctor or health professional, not to replace medical advice.  The information from this website is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or possible adverse effects of nutritional supplements with or without medications, or in conjunction with specific medical conditions.  The information from this website may not fit your specific health circumstances.  Never delay seeking medical care or disregard advise from your health care professional because of information you have received directly or indirectly from this website, from the Dr. Ladd VIP Program, or from Dr. Ladd McNamara himself.   Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before makking any changes to your medication or embarking on a nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement program, or before using any treatment for a health concern.  If you have, or suspect that you have, a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly.  Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read or heard on this website, or due to any other information from Dr. Ladd McNamara or his representatives. Information provided on this website or the V.I.P. Program, and the use of any products or services mentioned on this website (or as a result of information provided this program, article, or website) by you DOES NOT create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Ladd McNamara, M.D.  Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References

1. Alzoghaibi MA. Concepts of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in Crohn’s disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2013 Oct 21;19(39):6540-7.
2. Vargas Robles H, et al. Analyzing Beneficial Effects of Nutritional Supplements on Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Functions During Experimental Colitis. J Vis Exp. 2017 Jan 5;(119).
3. Kaulmann A, Bohn T. Bioactivity of Polyphenols: Preventive and Adjuvant Strategies toward Reducing Inflammatory Bowel Diseases-Promises, Perspectives, and Pitfalls. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2016;2016:9346470.
4. Martin DA, Bolling BW. A review of the efficacy of dietary polyphenols in experimental models of inflammatory bowel diseases. Food Funct. 2015 Jun;6(6):1773-86.
5. Somani SJ, et al. Phytochemicals and their potential usefulness in inflammatory bowel disease. Phytother Res. 2015 Mar;29(3):339-50.
6. Oz HS, Chen T, de Villiers WJ. Green Tea Polyphenols and Sulfasalazine have Parallel Anti-Inflammatory Properties in Colitis Models. Front Immunol. 2013 Jun 5;4:132.
7. Wang N, et al. Resveratrol Protects Oxidative Stress-Induced Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction by Upregulating Heme Oxygenase-1 Expression. Dig Dis Sci. 2016 Sep;61(9):2522-34.
8. Barbara G, et al. Mucosal permeability and immune activation as potential therapeutic targets of probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2012 Oct;46 Suppl:S52-5.
9. Coburn LA, et al. L-arginine supplementation improves responses to injury and inflammation in dextran sulfate sodium colitis. PLoS One. 2012;7(3):e33546.
10. Rapin JR, Wiernsperger N. Possible links between intestinal permeability and food processing: A potential therapeutic niche for glutamine. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2010 Jun;65(6):635-43.
11. Vermeulen MA, et al. Glutamate reduces experimental intestinal hyperpermeability and facilitates glutamine support of gut integrity. World J Gastroenterol. 2011 Mar 28;17(12):1569-73.
12. Andus T, et al. Patients with refractory Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis respond to dehydroepiandrosterone: a pilot study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2003 Feb;17(3):409-14.
13. Khalili H, et al. Endogenous levels of circulating androgens and risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis among women: a nested case-control study from the nurses’ health study cohorts. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2015 Jun;21(6):1378-85.
14. Esteban-Zubero E, et al. Melatonin’s role as a co-adjuvant treatment in colonic diseases: A review. Life Sci. 2017 Feb 1;170:72-81.
15. Barbalho SM, et al. Inflammatory bowel disease: can omega-3 fatty acids really help? Ann Gastroenterol. 2016 Jan-Mar;29(1):37-43.

All materials on this website, written, audio, visual, are copyrighted by Ladd McNamara, Inc., and are not to be distributed, duplicated, shared, posted to another website or social media sites (including Facebook, etc.), except for under the Terms of Use for sharing approved articles and videos.

As a VIP member, you agree that you will NOT share any written, audio, video, or any other proprietary materials from this website with those in your organization, other associates, or team members; and that you will only share approved articles/protocols and videos with your OWN PERSONAL & IMMEDIATE customers, clients, and prospective customers/clients.  Doing so, would result in the loss of your Dr. Ladd VIP membership without a refund.   

Thank you for your honesty and integrity. 

About the Dr. Ladd VIP Program

Please Read About the Benefits of Becoming a Member of the Dr. Ladd VIP Program, which is Open to Everyone! 

The Dr. Ladd VIP program is a subscription-based personal program to better your health, energy, and passion for life, and for helping others. This program includes on-going support for yourself, and as you help customers and clients with your health enterprise.

Do you have a need to understand how NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS can benefit the health of people suffering from any number of chronic diseases; such as Heart Disease, Cancer, Diabetes, Arthritis, Dementia, Lyme Disease, Autoimmune Diseases, and Many More!

• Do you have a need for SUPPLEMENT PROTOCOLS as to what specific supplement combinations to use?
• How about WHY SUPPLEMENTS?   How do you chose a QUALITY BRAND?
• Do you have a need to BETTER ASSIST CUSTOMERS in making a good decision?
• How about ON-GOING SUPPORT for ON-GOING QUESTIONS?
• How about YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH, and/or Your PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS?

Happiness and Health includes not only being free of disease, but passionately engaged in a relationship, in life, and in helping others!  It means living with less stress, more fun, and activity.

The Dr. Ladd VIP Program is about Vitality, Intimacy, and Passion, being balanced in all aspects of life, and helping others to get there too.

Please read more at www.drladdvip.com, and take advantage of the Video Courses, the Supplement Protocols, Articles, Downloadable PDFs, and Dr. Ladd VIP Facebook Community and Support.  “Have me in your back pocket” by becoming a VIP  Member Today! 

If you are not a VIP member, please subscribe to my email list.  If you are already a VIP member, no need to subscribe to the email newsletter list.  Thank you.

dr. ladd

Please learn more about the Dr. Ladd VIP program here: www.drladdvip.com.

Please Subscribe to Dr. Ladd’s Email List

Receive health and website updates, as well as information on upcoming FREE health-related webinars.

All the material on this website, including this article and protocol is copyrighted by Ladd McNamara, Inc., and it is unlawful to copy or distribute this without permission. It is for the sole use of Dr. Ladd’s V.I.P. members only.

Dr. Ladd’s V.I.P. Program and Website is Owned and Operated by Ladd R. McNamara, M.D. and Ladd McNamara, Inc., a California corporation.  2021