Csaba Tóth, Andrea Dabóczi, Mark Howard, Nicholas J. Miller, Zsófia Clemens

Crohn's disease successfully treated with the paleolithic ketogenic diet 

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Crohn’s disease is regarded as having no curative treatment. Previous reports on dietary therapy of Crohn’s disease indicate no major success.

Case Report: Here we report a severe case of Crohn’s disease where we successfully applied the paleolithic ketogenic diet. Dietary therapy resulted in resolution of symptoms, normalized laboratory parameters as well as gradual normalization of bowel inflammation as evidenced by imaging data and normalization of intestinal permeability as shown by the polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) challenge test. The patient was able to discontinue medication within two weeks. Currently, he is on the diet for 15 months and is free of symptoms as well as side effects.

Conclusion: We conclude that the paleolithic ketogenic diet was feasible,
effective and safe in the present case.

INTRODUCTION
Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory disease of the bowel, is regarded as having no cure [1]. Standard treatment which involves steroids, immunosuppressants and biological therapy is aimed at reducing symptoms [1]. Periods of flares and remissions typically alternate, however, the overall course of the disease is progressive. A set of ecological evidence, including a discrepancy between westernized and non-westernized countries in the occurrence of the disease, raises the possibility of lifestyle and/or dietary factors in the etiology of the disease [2]. There have been several attempts to use a dietary intervention in Crohn’s disease such as the specific carbohydrate diet [3] and the anti-inflammatory diet [4] as well as elimination-reintroduction diets [5]. Although clinical improvements and reduction of medicines have been reported being associated with these diets we are not aware of any diet inducing complete remission and long-term freedom of medicines at the same time.

The authors of the present report are using a diet referred to as the paleolithic ketogenic diet in the treatment of chronic conditions. So far we have published cases of successful treatment of diabetes type 1 [6, 7] and type 2 [8], epilepsy [9,10] as well as other conditions [11].

CASE REPORT

Previous medical history

Diagnosis
The 14-year-old boy presented with fatigue, low grade fever, iron deficiency anemia, lower abdominal tenderness and perianal dermatitis. He was of short stature for his age. On 30 Sep 2013 upper and lower endoscopy was performed. The latter showed ulcerative lesion in the terminal ileum. Biopsy was taken from multiple sites and histopathology showed severe inflammation of the terminal ileum and the Bauhin's valve. Signs of mild-to-moderate degree aspecific inflammation were seen in the colon. On laboratory workup inflammatory marker C reactive protein (CRP) was elevated (58 mg/L). He was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.

Standard treatment
At the time of diagnosis onset (on 07 Oct 2013) the patient was started on mesalazine, metronidazole and pantoprazole. Within ten days, ciprofloxacin and probiotics were added. Given that no improvement was seen immunosuppressant therapy was initiated on 13 Nov 2013 with azathioprine together with methylprednisolone, potassium citrate, calcium and vitamin D. Given that disease progressed, a year after diagnosis onset (on 25 Sep 2014), biological therapy was initiated: five cycles of adalimumab were given each two weeks apart. The condition of the patient further deteriorated and therefore on 07 Nov 2014 exclusive formula feeding was initiated. At this time mesalazine, multivitamin, vitamin D3 and calcium were discontinued. Pantoprasole was discontinued within two weeks. Formula-based nutrition resulted in the resolution of abdominal pain but other symptoms persisted (Table 1, Figures 5. and 6.).

Laboratory data
As the disease progressed iron deficiency anaemia of the patient worsened. Thrombocyte number showed a decreasing tendency across the course of the standard treatment. Level of inflammatory markers CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) dropped when initiating the immunosuppressant therapy and steroid but increased thereafter (Table 1., Figure 6.).

Imaging

Ultrasound
At the time of the diagnosis ultrasound examination performed on 07 Oct 2013 showed thickening of the terminal ileum and that of the small intestine at multiple sites. No thickening of the colon was seen. Three further follow up ultrasound examinations were carried out during the next year. This showed progression of the disease as reflected by increasing diameter of the thickened bowel wall and an increasing intensity of hypervascularization. The last ultrasound out of the four (on 07 Nov 2014) already indicated the thickening of nearly all bowel segments including the colon ascendens and the colon transversum. Figure 1. shows as the largest diameter of the terminal ileum changed between 07 Oct 2013 and 07 Nov 2014.

Figure 1 Timeline encompassing the medication of the patient, timing and the result of the MR enterography as well as that of the ultrasound examination.
Abbreviations: ti: thickness of the terminal ileum, *: moderate hypervascularization, **: strong hypervascularization, IPT: intestinal permeability test

MR enterography
MR enterography performed five weeks after diagnosis onset (on 12 Nov 2013) indicated thickening of the small intestinal wall at multiple locations. A follow up MR enterography 13 months later, on 16 Dec 2014, showed an increase in the variability in the diameter of the bowel lumen and narrowing of the lumen (Figure 2.). Due to the narrowing the patient was offered surgery in December 2014 which he refused.

Figure 2 Timeline encompassing medication and the change in the inflammatory markers ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and CRP (C reactive protein).

Symptoms
Abdominal cramps as well as episodes of low grade fever lessened when initiating the immunosuppressant therapy together with steroid. However, within three months the patient developed bilateral knee pain as a new symptom. Later on his appetite deteriorated. At 12 months after diagnosis onset abdominal cramps increased and episodes of low grade fever returned. The patient reported fatigue along with a deterioration in his school performance. Following the onset of the biological therapy all symptoms persisted. Following the fourth cycle of adalimubab strong abdominal pain emerged abruptly which persisted for several hours. Given this experience and the overall ineffectiveness of the biological therapy the patient decided to stop it. He was put on exclusive enteral nutrition which resulted in a lessening of his abdominal cramps but other symptoms persisted.

Dietary advices while on the standard therapy
The patient was advised to follow a diet free of lactose and low in fat and fibers. Analysis of his diet-symptom diary did not show any consistent association between symptoms and food items.

Intervention with the paleolithic ketogenic diet
Given the ineffectiveness of standard therapies the parents of the child were seeking for alternative options. When we first met the patient he reported bilateral pain and swelling of the knee, frequent episodes of fever and night sweats as well as fatigue. He looked pale. We offered the paleolithic ketogenic diet along with close monitoring of the patient. The patient started the diet on 04 Jan 2015. The diet is consisting of animal fat, meat, offal and eggs with an approximate 2:1 fat:protein ratio. Red and fat meats instead of poultry as well as regular intake of organ meats from pork and cattle were encouraged. Grains, milk, dairy, refined sugars, vegetable oils, oilseeds, nightshades and artificial sweeteners were excluded. Small amount of honey was allowed for sweetening. The patient was not taking any supplements. Regular home monitoring of urinary ketones indicated sustained ketosis. Regular laboratory follow up was used to monitor the course of the disease as well as for giving feedback how to fine tune the diet. The patient was under our close control and gave frequent feedbacks and so we could assess the level of dietary compliance. The patient maintained a high level dietary adherence on the long term, yet on his birthday, he made a mistake: he has eaten two pieces of commercially available ”paleo” cake which contained coconut oil, flour from oilseeds as well as sugar alcohol. Clinical consequences are discussed later. From July 2015 on he also consumed small amounts of vegetables and fruits. Given the persistence of certain alterations in laboratory values (mild anaemia) on 10 Nov 2015, despite 10 months on the paleolithic ketogenic diet, we suggested to tighten the diet again. From this time on he did neither consume vegetables and fruits nor vegetable oil containing spices such as cumin and cinnamon.
We obtained written informed consent from the patient for the publication of his case.

RESULTS

Discontinuing medication
Within two weeks after diet onset the patient discontinued azathioprine, the only medicine he was taking at this time. Currently he is without medicines for 15 months.

Symptoms
The frequent night sweats of the patient disappeared within three weeks after diet onset and thus his sleep improved significantly. The knee pains of the patient began to lessen at 4 weeks on the diet and completely disappeared by the third month. From this time on he regularly went to school by bike (20 km daily). He reported restored energy and increased physical and mental fitness. Although during the eight months before diet onset his weight was declining, following diet onset he began to gain weight. At diet onset his weight was 41 kg and was 152 cm tall (BMI=17.7). At 12 months after diet onset, his height was 160 cm and weighted 50 kg (BMI: 19.5). The change in his height and weight is depicted in Figure 3. At the time of writing the article he is on the diet for 15 months and is free of symptoms as well as side effects.

Figure 3 Thickness of the terminal ileum (largest diameter is indicated) seen on ultrasound. Onset of the paleolithic ketogenic diet as well as the occurrence of a dietary failure is indicated with arrows. Note the improvement during the paleolithic ketogenic diet, the relapse following the single episode of dietary failure and the normal results on the last examination.
* indicate mild degree hypervascularization while ** high degree hypervascularization.

Figure 4 Magnetic resonance enterography on 16 December 2014 showed thickening of the terminal ileum (arrows).

Laboratory workup
Laboratory workup including blood and urinary analysis was performed seven times during follow up. Urinary ketones were positive on each occasion. Blood glucose was between 5 and 5.4 mmol/l. Renal and liver function as well as ions were normal. His severe iron deficiency anemia was reversed already on the fourth week of the diet: iron level increased from 3.6 μmol/L to 12.1 μmol/L. Inflammatory markers including ESR and CRP decreased significantly: at four weeks CRP was 3.75 mg/L while ESR was 3 mm/h (Figure 6.). Thereafter inflammatory markers elevated to some extent. Thrombocyte number was already low before diet onset but decreased further following diet onset. The last laboratory follow up, however, on 14 Dec 2015, indicated an increase in thrombocyte number (Table 2.).

Imaging
Ultrasound examination of the abdomen was carried out five times during follow up and was performed by the same investigator. The first examination following the onset of the paleolithic ketogenic diet, on 29 Jan 2015, showed significant improvement. Although wall of the terminal ileum was still thickened hypervascularization was no longer present. Thickening was still seen in the coecum and the ileum but not in the other regions which were described as being affected on the preceding ultrasound examination. A follow up exam on 09 Apr 2015 showed further improvement: thickening of the wall of the terminal ileum decreased and no abnormal was seen in any other regions. A next ultrasound which was made following eating the ”paleo cakes” showed thickening of the wall of the terminal ileum to as much as 6 mm. On the next examination, on 19 Jun 2015, thickening of the terminal ileum decreased to 4.5 cm. Three months later, on 17 Sep 2015, the examination showed no abnormal (Figures 1 and 6.).

Intestinal permeability test
Intestinal permeability was assessed using a polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) challenge test based on the method of Chadwick et al. [12]. PEG 400 contains a mixture of inert water soluble molecules of 11 different sizes that are absorbed independently of dose, but which display decreasing mucosal transport with increasing molecular size. PEG 400 is also nontoxic, not degraded by intestinal bacteria, not metabolized by tissues, and rapidly excreted in urine. After a 3.0 gram oral dose of PEG, the subject makes a 6 hour urine collection. The PEG fractions are acetylated with acetic anhydride, using pyridine as a catalyst, and then quantitated by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. The percentage of each fraction of PEG excreted over 6 hours is calculated.
PEG 400 challenge test performed at four months on the diet (on 18 May 2015) showed increased permeability to PEG between 242 and 418 molecular weight. A follow up test performed at 10 months on the diet (on 26 Nov 2015) showed no abnormal intestinal permeability (Figure 4.).

Figure 5 Weight and height of the patient during the 14 months on the standard treatment and following the onset of the dietary therapy.

Figure 6 PEG 400 challenge test showing increased intestinal permeability to PEG from molecular weight 242 to molecular weight 418 at four months on the diet (A) while no abnormal at 10 months (B).

DISCUSSION

Here we report a case where Crohn’s disease was reversed by the paleolithic ketogenic diet.
Disease symptoms began to improve a few weeks after diet onset. Within 10 months the patient achieved full remission from symptoms as well as normalization of intestinal inflammation as evidenced by imaging data, normalization of laboratory parameters and that of the intestinal permeability. Aside from a single dietary fault the patient strictly adhered to the diet as assessed by frequent patient feedback, laboratory data and home monitoring of urinary ketones. Given the patient’s severe condition upon the first visit the paleolithic ketogenic diet was started in the strictest form thus containing no vegetables and fruits at all. Such a diet may first sound restrictive but our previous experience indicate that a full fat-meat diet is needed in the most severe cases of Crohn’s disease. In addition, our experience shows that even a single occasion of deviation from diet rules may result in lasting relapse. This was the case in the present patient too where breaking the strict rules (eating the ”paleo cakes”) resulted in a thickening of the bowel wall. Based on our experience this is due to the components of the popular paleolithic diet including coconut oil, oil seeds and sugar alcohols which may trigger inflammation. In contrast, honey, consumed in limited amounts is tolerable and does not cause such symptoms. The significant improvement seen in the last laboratory exam also indicates that the paleolithic ketogenic diet is most effective when containing no plant components at all.

Crohn’s disease is known to be characterized by a progressive worsening of symptoms. Standard therapies may result in a temporary symptom relief but are accompanied by significant side effects [1]. Surgical resection is thought to be inevitable on the long term [13]. Our patient also failed to respond to immunosuppressive therapies, steroid, biological agents and exclusive formula feeding. Within 14 months after diagnosis onset, he was offered surgery due to the narrowing of the bowel. The paleolithic ketogenic diet reversed the disease from this very advanced stage. Although Crohn’s disease is known to be characterized by an alternation of better and worse periods, a complete remission from a very advanced stage is highly unlikely to be the part of the normal course of the disease.

While on the biological therapy thrombocyte number dropped and continued to decrease while on the diet. Our previous experience does not indicate thrombocytopenia on the paleolithic ketogenic diet. However, low thrombocyte number is a well-known side effect of the use of adalimumab in Crohn’s disease [14, 15]. It is also noteworthy that a return to the strictest form of the paleolithic ketogenic diet resulted in an increase in thrombocyte number.

Crohn’s disease is regarded as an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases and Crohn’s disease specifically have been linked to increased intestinal permeability [16]. Yet currently there is no known means to reverse pathological intestinal permeability [17]. A previous study with the paleolithic diet found no change in intestinal permeability as assessed by the lactulose-mannitol test [18]. As far as we know this is the first documented case where pathological intestinal permeability was reversed as assessed by a diagnostic test.

Experts in the field of evolutionary medicine has long been suggesting that chronic diseases of civilization emerge from a mismatch between our ancient genome and current lifestyles [19,20]. In recent years an increasing number of studies showed that the metabolic syndrome and associated conditions can be reversed or improved by applying a diet denoted as ”paleolithic” (for a review see: [21]). In the paleolithic diet, as described in the implied papers, macronutrient ratios are undefined or variable, as well as that of the ratio of animal/plant foods including the ratio of animal/plant fats. Our clinical experience, however, indicate that the most severe chronic conditions, including the Crohn’s disease, can only be reversed by the paleolithic ketogenic diet based on animal fat, meat and offal. A same conclusion was drawn in our previous case study showing that the paleolithic ketogenic diet was more effective than the popular form of the paleolithic diet in the case of Gilbert’s syndrome [11]. The paleolithic ketogenic diet we use in the treatment of chronic diseases is close to the evolutionary diet originally proposed by gastroenterologist Voegtlin [22]. With regard to the main principals, background, sustainability and further issues such as vitamin supply while on a meat-fat based diet we refer to the excellent book of Voegtlin [22].

As regards the underlying mechanism, we put forward that normalizing pathological intestinal permeability is crucial in tackling autoimmune diseases, including Crohn’s disease. Accordingly, increased intestinal permeability has been shown to predict relapses in Crohn’s disease [23]. It is known that under physiological conditions, dietary macromolecules are not transported paracellularly from the intestinal lumen to the blood or the lymph. It has been suggested that certain components of the Western-type diet are able to destroy cell junctions and thereby compromise the intestinal barrier function [24,25]. As a result, large molecules including protein fragments and glycoproteins, possessing antigenic properties, may appear in the circulation and promote chronic inflammation [26]. Given their specific structure, these macromolecules may bind to and form complexes with the surface molecules of certain cell types. Such a complex is then destroyed by the immune system through apoptosis [27,28]. We assume that a continued exposition to these macromolecules may maintain the autoimmune destruction of tissues. We put forward that the animal fat-meat based diet, the only diet humans are evolutionary adapted to, is lacking substances that are destroying the intestinal barrier. A shift toward the paleolithic ketogenic diet may normalize intestinal permeability (as also seen in our patient) and thereby may halt the autoimmune destruction of the affected tissues, in our case the intestine. With the attenuation of the autoimmune process the intestine may regenerate.

CONCLUSION
We conclude that the paleolithic ketogenic diet was effective while producing no side effects in this case of Crohn’s disease. In contrast to standard therapeutic approaches which are aimed to control certain components of the disease only, the paleolithic ketogenic diet was able to reverse the cluster of symptoms and abnormalities associated with the disease. Assuming a long term dietary compliance, we believe that the patient would remain disease-free in the future.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflict of interest

MAGYAR KIVONAT

A Crohn betegség gyógyítása a paleo-ketogén étrenddel

Bevezetés: A Crohn betegséget gyógyíthatatlan betegségként tartják számon. Azok a korábbi kísérletek, melyek a táplálkozás megváltoztatásával próbálták a Cohn betegséget gyógyítani nem jártak sikerrel.

Esettanulmány: Egy olyan előrehaladott állapotú Crohn betegről számolunk be, ahol sikeresen alkalmaztuk a paleo-ketogén étrendet. Az étrendi terápia következtében a betegnél megszűntek a tünetek, normalizálódtak a laborparaméterek, a bélgyulladás megszűnt a képalkotó vizsgálatok szerint is. A polietilén glikol 400 teszt pedig a béláteresztés normalizálódását mutatta. A beteg két hét alatt elhagyta a gyógyszerét. Jelenleg 15 hónapja van az étrenden, tünetek és mellékhatások nem jelentkeztek.

Konklúzió: A paleo-ketogén étrend megvalósíthatónak, hatékonynak és biztonságosnak bizonyult ebben az esetben. 

A cikk magyar fordítása - Hungarian translation

KAPCSOLÓDÓ CIKKEK:

Te döntesz: Szenvedsz vagy meggyógyulsz. Dávid, a paleo-ketogén étrend és a Crohn betegség.

Gyógyulás a Crohn betegségből: Zsanett érettségi pályamunkája - 1. rész
Gyógyulás a Crohn betegségből: Zsanett érettségi pályamunkája - 2. rész

A Crohn betegség gyógyítása: Roli beszámolója (videó)

A Paleomedicina munkacsoport kizárólag tudományos alapon végzi a tevékenységét. Semmilyen természetgyógyászati módszert nem használunk, ezektől elhatárolódunk. A Paleomedicina által képviselt irányzat, az evolúciós orvoslás, a valódi tudomány része. Nemzetközi orvosi szakfolyóiratokban megjelent közleményeinket itt olvashatják.