Recent research suggests that foods high in tryptophan, like turkey and nuts, might help avoid colitis flares in those with ulcerative colitis.
According to information in mice, extra tryptophan might minimize the danger of future colitis flares.
Thanksgiving is often a time for considering your tummy. For those with an inflammatory bowel illness like ulcerative colitis, feasting can be related to stress, even when food isnt a trigger for the agonizing signs. New research study in mice suggests that certain foods– especially those high in tryptophan, like turkey, pork, nuts, and seeds– might minimize the danger of a colitis flare. The findings indicate a noninvasive technique of improving long-term colitis management, if the results are verified in people.
Research Findings and Implications
” Although there are some treatments for ulcerative colitis, not everybody responds to them,” says senior author Sangwon Kim, Ph.D., an assistant teacher of immunology at Thomas Jefferson University. “This illness has a big effect on quality of life, and can result in surgery to eliminate the colon or cancer.” The research was published on November 14 in the clinical journal Nature Communications.
Given that ulcerative colitis is caused by inflammation of the inner lining of the colon and rectum, Dr. Kim and his coworkers tried to find ways to cool off the irritated tissue. They concentrated on a group of immune cells called T-regulatory (T-reg) cells, which can help break the cycle of swelling. Perhaps they might lower the inflammation that causes colitis if they might get more T-reg cells to the colon.
Dr. Kims group thought about how to draw in the T-reg cells, and discovered a particular receptors on the surface of T-reg cells that acts like a magnet for the colon. They discovered tryptophan– or one of the molecules that tryptophan breaks down into in the body– might increase these receptors called GPR15.
Dietary Tryptophan and Its Effects
To check whether these molecules could manage colitis, the researchers supplemented tryptophan in the diet plan of mice over a duration of 2 weeks. They saw a doubling in the amount of inflammation-suppressing T-reg cells in the colon tissue compared to mice that werent fed extra tryptophan. Dr. Kims group also saw a decrease in colitis signs. Whats more, the effects appeared to last for a minimum of a week after tryptophan was eliminated from the diet. “In human time that may translate to about a month of advantage,” described Dr. Kim who is likewise a scientist at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center– Jefferson Health.
However, when tryptophan was provided to mice throughout a colitis flare, it supplied little benefit, suggesting this dietary modification may just be effective at preventing future flares instead of treating them.
Additional Discoveries and Future Research
In a chance finding, while trying to find molecules that might increase GPR15, the researchers likewise came across a particle that assists explain why smoking appears to be protective versus colitis. Researchers have actually long observed that people who smoke cigarettes have a lower incidence of ulcerative colitis than the public. Dr. Kims team found a particle that prevails in smoke– from cigarettes and bbq alike– that can likewise increase GPR15 levels on T-reg cells “Although both might help secure against colitis, tryptophan is obviously the much safer and much healthier option,” says Dr. Kim.
In the future, the scientists plan to check whether these outcomes can be equated to individuals with colitis. Tryptophan supplement is considered safe, as long as the dosage doesnt surpass 100 milligrams per day. Utilizing the mouse information as a guide, Dr. Kim anticipates that 100 milligrams could be enough to see an effect in people, and is preparing even more testing in medical trials.
Recommendation: “Dietary L-Tryptophan intake determines the number of colonic regulatory T cells and susceptibility to colitis through GPR15” by Nguyen T. Van, Karen Zhang, Rachel M. Wigmore, Anne I. Kennedy, Carolina R. DaSilva, Jialing Huang, Manju Ambelil, Jose H. Villagomez, Gerald J. OConnor, Randy S. Longman, Miao Cao, Adam E. Snook, Michael Platten, Gerard Kasenty, Luis J. Sigal, George C. Prendergast and Sangwon V. Kim, 14 November 2023, Nature Communications.DOI: 10.1038/ s41467-023-43211-4.
This work was supported by NIAID grant R01AI141787 (S.V.K), NIAID grant R21AI142318 (S.V.K.), Career Development Award from Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America (# 329388) (S.V.K.), SKCC pilot fund for the iGONAD method of mouse genetic engineering (L.J.S.), and National Institute of Health grant 5P30CA056036-22 (TJU SKCC core grant). Dr. Kim holds a patent related to this work. The authors state no other disputes of interest.
New research study in mice suggests that particular foods– especially those high in tryptophan, like turkey, pork, nuts, and seeds– might lower the risk of a colitis flare. Because ulcerative colitis is triggered by swelling of the inner lining of the colon and rectum, Dr. Kim and his coworkers looked for ways to cool down the swollen tissue. If they might get more T-reg cells to the colon, maybe they could reduce the swelling that causes colitis.
To check whether these molecules could manage colitis, the researchers supplemented tryptophan in the diet plan of mice over a period of two weeks. Dr. Kims group discovered a particle that is prevalent in smoke– from cigarettes and bbq alike– that can likewise increase GPR15 levels on T-reg cells “Although both might help safeguard against colitis, tryptophan is certainly the much safer and healthier option,” states Dr. Kim.
