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Healthy fat link to bowel disease

(BBC 24/07/2009)

Experts believe a high intake of linoleic acid, found in foods like "healthy" margarines, whilst good for the heart, may be implicated in a third of ulcerative colitis cases. The researchers base their findings, due to be published in Gut, on food diaries from more than 200,000 people. They also found that a diet rich in another type of fat, omega 3 fatty acid found in oily fish such as salmon and herring, reduced the likelihood of developing ulcerative colitis by 77% [confirmation needed].

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Discovery Could Improve Understanding Of Ulcerative Colitis, Lead To New Therapies

(World health - EU Monitor 05/01/2009)

An international team led by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers has identified genetic markers associated with risk for ulcerative colitis.

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Inflammatory bowel gene uncovered

(BBC 05/10/2008)

It was known that ulcerative colitis, which affects around 100,000 people in the UK, runs in families. Now researchers have linked the condition with the gene that encodes for interleukin 10 (IL10) - a compound which regulates inflammation. "In light of these results, systemic or topical delivery of IL10 should be worthy of consideration for clinical trials," said study leader Professor Stefan Schreiber.

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