Study Finds No Link between B Vitamin Supplements and Colon Cancer Risk

For some time, researchers have had mixed opinions as to the effect of B vitamins on the risk of colon cancer. Some have suggested that these vitamins might increase the risk of pre-cancerous lesions, while others believed they might provide some preventive benefit. Read more >>

New study finds screening colonoscopy reduces colon cancer death risk by 70 percent

A new study supports what gastroenterologists have preached to their patients for decades, having a screening colonoscopy greatly reduces the risk of developing colon cancer. Now they know by how much.

The study, published in the March 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that for average-risk people, screening colonoscopies produced a 70 percent reduction in risk for newly detected cases of advanced-stage colon cancer – the type most difficult to cure. Read more >>

Study findings: diabetics may benefit from earlier colonoscopies

A pair of physician researchers reported in May they have found a connection between diabetics and a higher incidence of precancerous polyps, leading to a recommendation that Type 2 diabetics may need to begin colorectal screenings earlier than the typical age 50.

The researchers, Dr. Honga Vu, a clinical gastroenterology fellow at Washington University and Dr. John Petrini, a gastroenterologist at Sansum Clinic and past president of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, presented their findings during Digestive Disease Week in San Diego. Read more >>

Is your medication causing diarrhea?

The Federal Drug Administration has recently warned that some common acid-reducing medications may increase the risk of Clostridium difficile (C-diff) infection-related diarrhea.

C-diff is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation and damage to the lining of the colon leading to severe diarrhea. Typically the infection occurs after antibiotic therapy, when too much helpful bacteria has been destroyed allowing the C-diff bacteria to flourish. Read more >>

Good news for southern women: reduced risk of inflammatory bowel disease

A recent study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology suggests that in the United States southern women are less likely than their northern counterparts to suffer from Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Researchers believe this is attributable to the extra time that southern women spend in the sun’s ultraviolet rays, thereby increasing their Vitamin D levels. Read more >>

Osteoporosis Medications Can Cause Gastrointestinal Discomfort

Fifty-four percent of postmenopausal women in the United States have a low bone mass density, increasing their risk for hip and vertebral fractures. To combat this risk, a growing number of physicians are prescribing osteoporosis medications.

Bisphosphonate, an ingredient in medications such as Boniva, Actonel and Fosamax, has been linked to stomach pain, heartburn and ulcers. A recent Oxford University Study has revealed that taking these drugs could possibly double your chances of esophageal cancer, indicating that the risk of esophageal cancer increases slightly after just one dose of a bisphosphonate-containing medicine. Read more >>

GI Roundtable highlights focus on patient care

Recently I was privileged to be a part of a national GI Roundtable held here in Knoxville. During the course of two days, 130 invited leaders of gastrointestinal practices from across the country came together to discuss health care reform and the future of gastroenterology. Read more >>

Research Helps GIA Physicians Achieve Better Outcomes

I recently participated in a study with a group of esteemed colleagues to determine if the suggested protocol for performing colonoscopy was, in fact, the most beneficial. The results of this study were published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology (http://www.jcge.com; Vol. 44, No. 4, April 2010). Read more >>

Getting to the Right Source

Are you on Facebook? We are!

We have also posted some news highlights on YouTube.

I am finding new media is opening up incredible ways to provide information that can help keep people well – and for others to share that information with people who need it. Read more >>

Is Colon Cleansing Helpful or Balderdash?

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal brought to the forefront a long-standing debate between practitioners of conventional and alternative medicine over the value of colon cleansing.

Read more >>